Safety Advice for Parents and Children
Get practical safety advice for parents and children about real risks. Find the truth behind silly health and safety myths in the media.
Discover interactive websites for kids about hazards such as electricity, water and building sites.
This page also has information on the law on part time employment for children at school.
The rest of this section has advice for young people about their health and safety at work, when going on work experience or starting their first job.
Part time Employment While at School
Children may have part time jobs while they are still at school, but it is illegal to work if you are under the age of 13.
Children aged 13 and over are allowed to work in certain types of employment for a limited number of hours before and after school or at weekends, depending on their age.
Parents and children can get advice on the law from the Child Employment Officer at East Sussex County Council (ESCC). Telephone 01424 720702 or download the leaflet Part Time Child Employment - A Young Person's Guide.
The Lifebytes website has useful safety tips for newspaper delivery rounds, one of the most popular jobs for children.
Stay Safe Advice for Children
Health and safety is about controlling dangers related to work activities, to protect the public as well as workers. There are warning signs and precautions for unsafe, hazardous environments such as:
building sites
farms
railway lines
electricity pylons and sub-stations
Younger children need to learn about hazards, understand what the dangers are and why warning signs and fences are there.
Building sites are not playgrounds and playing on them can have fatal consequences. Hazard Alley - Dangers on the Building Site is an interactive website to help children understand the risks.
Leaflets and Websites for Kids
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for health and safety in the construction industry and on farms.
It has published Stay Safe leaflets and posters to download for children on building site safety and farm safety.
Also see additional advice on general safety hazards when children are out and about. THINK! Road Safety has special websites for children - Hedgehogs, Arrive Alive and Cycle Smart.
See Water Safety for advice about swimming in the sea and the dangers of open water such as lakes, rivers and canals.
