Protection of Children and Young Persons

This section deals with the conditions under which a child or young person is employed. The regulations define a child as under 16 and a young person as 16 to 18.

The employer is required to carry out a risk assessment prior to a child or a young person commencing employment and, when there is a major change. The employer must ensure that risks to a child or young person or to their development are assessed taking into account the increased risk from lack of maturity and experience. Preventive measures must be taken. Specifically, exposure to physical, biological and chemical agents or certain identified work situations or processes must be avoided.

Where there is a risk or a risk to development, the employer must provide health surveillance. An assessment of health and capabilities must be carried out prior to night work. The employer must inform the child or young person of the results and in the case of a child the parent or guardian must also be informed

• A Short Guide to Health Surveillance in the Workplace a_short_guide_to_health_surveillance_in_the_workplace.pdf
• Chapter 1 of Part 6: Protection of Children and Young Persons Gen_Apps_Children_Young_Persons.pdf (654 KB)
• Children and Young People on Farms Useful Links - Health and Safety Authority
• Health and safety matters for students embarking on work experience A short guide for teachers Work Experience
• S.I. No. 299 of 200 Microsoft Word - Document1
• Safety Toolkit and Short Guide to General Application Regulations 2007 Children and Young Persons Section Gen Apps Toolkit   :Layout 1
• Vulnerable Workers Information Sheet vulnerable_workers_information_sheet_2024.pdf
• Young People at Work: A Student Workbook choose_safety_students.pdf
• Young Persons Risk Assessment BeSMART.ie - Free Safety Statement & Risk Assessment Resource