Latvia: information on occupational safety and health matters for children.

In Valmiera district, within the framework of European week for safety and health at work ?SAFE START!? the State Labour Inspectorate (SLI) representatives visited children camp of art ?Varav?ksne?, and provided the information on occupational safety and health matters by organizing different activities and competitions for children. SLI, in collaboration with the organizers of camp ? Children?s Artistic Fantasy Academy, introduced its 10 ? 17 years old participants with the basics of labour safety. Competent specialists showed and explained safety signs. Also the necessity to use individual protective equipment was explained. As it was admitted by SLI Director Mrs. Rita Elce, it was the first time when SLI addressed the audience of such age. The main goal of campaign was to evaluate knowledge of children and young people regarding the labour protection matters by organizing different educational activities, in order to promote an understanding and knowledge of young people regarding the occupational safety and health matters also in the future. ?Lack of experience, psychological and physical maturity is the reason why young people are the most unprotected at work, therefore within the framework of campaign ?Safe start!? we would like to open the discussions on importance of our children?s safety and health. According to SLI statistics, during the first half of the year 2006 already 2 young people under the age of 18 were involved in occupational accidents without serious consequences, but in another 2 cases accidents caused serious injuries, one of which was lethal. SLI summons employees, especially the young ones who are just planning to start their working life, to participate in the educational events organized by SLI, but employers ? to provide good practice examples. SLI expresses a hope that mutual cooperation will help to reduce the number of occupational accidents with young people involved. Till the culmination of campaign ?Safe start!? organized within the framework of the European Week from October 23 – 27, several educational events for young people will be organized. Also in this year the annual traditions will continue and the poster competition ?My work ? safe work?, as well as the video competition ?Safe start ?Producer of European youth film of the year ? are being organized. www.vdi.gov.lv