Students on worksites: prohibited tasks and exemptions
A student contract does not permit freely assigning young workers to dangerous machinery and work on the site. Verify actual tasks before publishing the offer.
Articles X.3-3 and X.3-8 of the Code require prior risk analysis adapted to lack of experience and prohibit dangerous work, notably those in Annex X.3-1. Renew the analysis at least annually and when there is a significant change to the position.
For a student, Article X.3-11 permits certain exemptions only from age 18, when studies correspond to the activities concerned. The employer must guarantee effective prevention measures, oversight, and the presence of an experienced worker; request prior opinion from the committee and prevention adviser.
Article X.3-11/1 provides a specific prohibition on operating motorized handling equipment, with limited exceptions for certain trolleys and hand pallet trucks. Do not transform the general exemption into authorization to operate any machine. The text incorporates the amendment published June 10, 2024.