National WiseUp2Work Day last week aimed to highlight the huge number of deaths and injuries caused to youngsters when they start work due to poor training and induction.

In the UK, an average of five people under the age of 19 die and 1,500 are badly injured at work every year.

WiseUp2Work, which is a major initiative by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and supported by the National Youth Agency and the British Chambers of Commerce, addressed head-on the issue of safety for youngsters when they are starting work, apprenticeships or work experience.

The aim is to make employers, trainers, youth workers and teachers, and young people themselves, aware of the risks they face in the workplace and what they should be doing to mitigate them.

The day was staged at a time when many young people are embarking upon their careers or starting work experience placements, and are at the highest risk.

The aim of the day is to highlight the problems, provide guidance through resources and teaching materials, and call for better training and induction of young people in the workplace, so that the number of accidents can be reduced.

Further information about the campaign can be found on the website: www.wiseup2work.co.uk.

IOSH is Europe's leading body for health and safety professionals. We have nearly 30,000 members worldwide, including more than 8,000 Chartered Safety and Health Practitioners and 1,400 members in Ireland.

The Institution was founded in 1945 and is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that sets professional standards, supports and develops members and provides authoritative advice and guidance on health and safety issues.