Before a work placement commences, the principal should ensure that students undertaking work placements are provided with instruction about their rights and responsibilities in relation to workplace health and safety, and ensure the students' understanding of them.
For detailed information on workplace health and safety issues please refer to the
worksafe website.
Key responsibilities
Principals must ensure, as far as practicable, that:
- the work experience placement is undertaken without risk to the student's health or safety
- students are informed of their rights and obligations relating to workplace health and safety, including the process for reporting all accidents or incidents in the workplace
- a risk assessment of the work experience provider is conducted
- the student receives adequate information, training and supervision from the work experience provider, in relation to the work being carried out in the particular workplace
- parents provide health information relating to their student which may impact on the safety of their student or the safety of others in the workplace.
Students must:
- disclose any personal details including pre-existing medical information to the employer which may impact on their own safety or the safety of others in the workplace
- follow all workplace health and safety policies and procedures.
Work experience providers must ensure:
- students are inducted into the workplace
- students are provided with adequate support and directly supervised at all times
- workplace health and safety procedures are being followed.
During a work experience placement, the school must monitor the health and safety performance of the work experience provider. This may be achieved through:
- workplace visits
- specific inquiries addressed to the work experience provider
- debriefing students.
Where it is found that students are being required to undertake work that is a risk to their health and safety, action must be taken to minimise the risk to the student. Action may include withdrawing the student and consulting with
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
Student preparation
Workplace Health and Safety Queensland provide extensive resources for various industries and specific safety topics.
Some industries and/or workplaces have specific requirements for workers, including students on work experience. These include:
- the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) — specific to a workplace and individual worksites
- construction sites — students are required to hold a
general construction induction card (white card) before being allowed on site
- working with children — students may require a blue card. Further information about this can be found on the
blue card services website.