Workers' safety blitz

The TUC wants more on-site inspections

Trade union leaders have launched a campaign aimed at improving safety standards at work.

A TUC survey found that one in three young workers were not receiving health and safety training from employers.

Part-time workers are less likely to be given training even though the law required employers to offer it, said the union organisation.

Proper health and safety training is crucial to protect young workers

John Monks TUC

The poll of 355 people aged between 15 and 24 showed that many were not getting the protection they needed, said TUC general secretary John Monks.

"Proper health and safety training is crucial to protect young workers - and it's the law. Many young workers, especially those in their first jobs, don't know their health and safety rights.

"They don't know that they can refuse to do something dangerous at work."

Death toll

The TUC urged the Health and Safety Executive to run inspection blitzes on places where young people worked, especially in construction, fast food restaurants and the motorcycle courier industry.

Young workers can find out about their rights via a TUC helpline - 0870 6004 882.

The GMB union said two people aged between 16 and 24 were killed every month through accidents at work that could have been avoided.

General Secretary John Edmonds said: "Every death at work demonstrates that we have not established proper values and proper priorities in the workplace."