Speak Up, Stay Safe

Campaign launched to safeguard young people in the workplace

A campaign has been launched to reduce the number of young people who are killed or injured in the workplace.

Speak Up, Stay Safe aims to give young workers the chance to discuss any health or safety concerns they may have about their workplace with lawyers.

The campaign, backed by the Children's Society, YouthNet and the British Safety Council, has been launched as many young people can feel pressurised at work and are scared to speak up against their employers.

A free legal helpline, run by the Children's Society and its legal team, has been set up and YouthNet is offering health and safety advice to 16 to 25-year-old workers through its lifetracks.com website.

Liz Fisher-Frank, principal solicitor at the Children's Society, said: "This campaign is an important way of empowering young people to speak up if they are in a dangerous situation at work.

"If the situation becomes untenable or if they have been injured at work, young people can call our free phone line where we can give them legal information or refer them to a specialist practitioner if appropriate."

According to the latest figures, 3,200 young people aged between 16 and 19 were seriously injured at work. Over the past decade, 66 young people have been killed in the workplace.