Calls to teach health and safety at school

INTRODUCING safety and health education into schools could make the single biggest difference to keeping the next generation safe at work, according to Minister for Labour Affairs Tony Killeen, who addressed the awards ceremony of a pilot safety programme in schools run by the Health and Safety Authority.

Mr Killeen presented certificates to post-Junior Cert students and teachers in 15 post-primary schools which participated in the training and roll-out of a safety and health module.

There are more than 300,000 workers aged between 15 and 24 in the Irish workforce, according to the CSO. European research shows that young workers are 50% more likely to have an accident at work than their older counterparts.