Students told to speak out about injury risks in summer jobs
The Association of Personal Injury Lawyers has given a warning to students working summer jobs and to employers employing students to take workplace safety seriously.
Injury Lawyers have warned students that they are at a high risk of personal injury and that they should not be afraid to speak up about poor and unsafe working conditions.
In a press release, chief executive of the Nottingham-based Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL), Denise Kitchener, says students must not be afraid to speak out if they are asked to carry out unsafe tasks, or are asked to work in hazardous conditions.
Environments such as pub kitchens can be a hotbed for safety hazards, and we are concerned that young people who are only employed for a few months through the holidays, will be afraid to speak up if they feel their safety is at risk," she said.
Employer responsibility
"There are some rogue employers who don't put the safety of their employees at the top of the agenda, but the reality is that they have a responsibility to protect them regardless of whether they are temporary or not."
The press release continues to tell the story who was working in a pub over the summer in the hope of earning some extra cash for her next semester at university.
Unfortunately the student found herself with no money and in pain after during a busy shift at work she was told to collect some extremely hot glasses out of the washer mid cycle.
The glass exploded in her hand leaving her with a tiny little cut which severed a main nerve in her finger, meaning she lost all feeling in that finger. She had to have surgery in a attempt to restore felling but two years down the line the felling still hasn't fully returned to one of her fingers.
The student said "I couldn't get more work for the rest of the summer. It was a struggle because there were things I wanted to do, but couldn't, and I was short on money which I could've earned had this not happened," she added.
No entitlement for injured student
"Because it was just a summer job and I hadn't been there long, I wasn't even entitled to any sick pay for the time I was in hospital."
Denise says this is not an isolated case. "Injuries like this can and should be avoided in the first place. Employers have no right to put a worker's safety at risk no matter how busy they are.
"We would advise all workers not to do anything which they think may put them in danger, and not to be afraid to speak up if they are at all concerned."
In this current economic climate many employers are expected to cut back on safety in an effort to save money, but it is important for employees temporary or not to speak out about any unfair and unsafe work practices as even a small injury can effect some for life, meaning safety should always be a high priority for employers and thus lower chances of work accidents.
Updated on 8/16/2009