Age limit to working in a kitchen as cook

[heritage]

Could anyone confirm if there is an age limit by law that a cook/chef can work in a commercial kitchen.

[Kim A]

In light of the new Age discrimination act, I doubt there is an upper limit any more, but I think most employers would want you to be at least 15 or 16 to start. Why do you ask?

[~Wingnut~]

I can't confirm this but it used to be that you had to be over the age of 16 because of the sharp knives and equipment in the kitchen. I am going back 17 years now when I enquired about working in a kitchen and they told me the above, they could have been trying to fob me off tho :o)
I'm sure someone on here will know.

[heritage]

To Kim A - re an age limit by law that a cook/chef can work in a commercial kitchen.
It is the upper range, I was wondering about - holiday relief but nearly 70.

[Kim A]

Hi, Heritage.

These days, even at 60+, if you applied for holiday relief chef work and have the right qualifications/experience, you'd have to be considered for any vacancy. I'm pretty sure that the new laws prevent any company from refusing to interview or appoint anyone on the grounds that they are over the legal retirement age. I also think I'm right in saying that no-one can actually ask you how old you are when you apply for jobs these days, nor can they advertise for people using age as a deciding factor. The only way to test this is to try - get your knives sharpened and your whites on and go for it! Good luck!

[crossroads]

I think its sensible having an age limit, i mean you wouldn't let a 3yr old loose with a knife would you?
Unless you were mad