Health and safety myths - Fabric store could not employ work experience pupil due to scissors being used there

The HSE mythbuster challenge panel has recently been asked to consider a case where an enquirer was looking for work experience for her daughter and asked at a local fabric store. She was told they could not employ work experience students "due to health and safety as there are scissors around". She was told that their insurers would not cover them.

Reviewing this case, the panel decided that there is no reason at all why a young person could not take up a work experience placement in an environment simply because scissors are present. Insurers have confirmed that Employers’ liability insurance policies already cover work placements without the need for any additional cover.

HSE guidance explains how to ensure that work experience can take place and that any checks are proportionate to the environment:http://www.hse.gov.uk/youngpeople/workexperience/placeprovide.htm
It is unclear whether the local fabric warehouse are misinformed or were simply using health and safety as an easy excuse for not offering a placement.