Specific requirements in the Agriculture, Environment and Animal Care skill area

This article describes specific requirements that may apply to industry placements in this skill area.

When you get to the detailed preparations for industry placements, you should consider which requirements apply to you with the school, college or other type of provider you are working. You should talk to them about any specific compliance obligations on your business.

Safeguarding in rural and isolated environments

There may be situations where your placement students are likely to be alone with adult staff members as part of their work.

It may be that the line manager or supervisor will be asked to undergo a basic DBS check, for example, if the student has personal or healthcare needs due to a disability or the student is likely to be regularly alone with an adult as part of their placement. The school or college you are working with will tell you more about this.

Accessibility 

If you host a student with special educational needs or disabilities in an industry placement, you may need to make reasonable adjustments so that the student has access to the same tasks as their peers. Relevant information about a student’s disability and needs should be shared with you by the school or college, with the student’s consent. You should discuss them and make any necessary arrangements before the industry placement commences, with the support of the school or college.

For example, if you host a student with special educational needs or disabilities, you may need to make sure your equipment is useable by people with impaired vision; motor difficulties; cognitive impairments or learning disabilities; deafness or impaired hearing.

Health and Safety

You will be responsible for the health and safety of students whilst they are on industry placement with you. You must provide a safe working environment and ensure adequate induction, protective clothing and welfare facilities.

Health and safety guidance specific to your organisation is widely available on the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) website; for example, handling livestock, wild animals or guidance on machinery and equipment use.

You should consider specifics to your organisation, such as the suitability of any student with existing health conditions for working with animals (as these conditions could make them more susceptible to contracting a zoonosis).

As the employer, you must carry out risk assessments when hosting industry placement students to establish safe, productive activities to be completed. You should consider the students’ experience, knowledge and maturity as part of this risk assessment.

If you have a training centre or skills hub yourself, or if you have access to one run by another employer or group of employers, your student can spend up to a third of their placement hours in the centre learning how to work safely before coming on site.

Age

Some machinery and equipment will not be suitable for students under the age of 18. For example, you may not want placement students to operate a combine harvester or a self-propelled spraying machine.

You should check the legally required age limits on the HSE website on the use of some equipment and machinery and ensure adequate training in place.

The legal compliance article gives you more general information about your main responsibilities and provides links to detailed guidance and resources.

The content in this resource is for information only and does not constitute advice. Suggestions or considerations are offered for you to take into account. It’s your responsibility, supported by your school or college, to comply with any legal duties that you might have.