Although most young people are clambering for the door in their quest to be free of the shackles of school en route to their first job, few pause to consider just how dangerous a first workplace can be. Young people are more likely to be killed or injured at work than older workers and they are more likely to be involved in incidents and accidents. This increased risk relates to their experience, limited capacity to identify and understand risks and controls and their physical capacities and strength, particularly in jobs which involve manual tasks. Young workers are 17% more likely to experience an injury at work and 21% more likely to be hospitalised than an average across the age span. The industries with the highest rates of injury claims are agriculture, construction and manufacturing. Around 70% of claims for serious injury of young workers are made by males.
Practical solutions
Reducing the risks for young workers should involve commitment and effort from all levels of the workplace. This is not the place for a one size fits all approach. Practical solutions need to focus on what is relevant and important for each young worker in the context of the job they do in the workplace. Solutions can include:
Mentoring - a more experienced worker acting as a guide and supporter
Clear policies - easy to read and apply information that explains the approach of the workplace and sets out the why, how and when of tasks and activities at work
Clear procedures - based on policies, these are the nuts and bolts of 'what' to do at work
Clear signage - visual reminders that provide cues and warnings, as well as information about steps, actions and tasks
Active participation - involving everyone in the workplace in thinking about, discussing and acting on safety issues
PPE - often seen as the 'go to' solution to workplace risks, PPE should be used as a last line of defense when other options (like removing a hazard completely) are not available
Workers with additional needs
Young workers with additional needs require individualised support to help them thrive in the workplace and to ensure they can work safely. The risks which exist for young workers also exist for those who have a disability, health condition or mental illness. The strategies that are needed to provide support should focus on what is relevant for that particular young person in that workplace at that time.
Strategies might involve seeking specialist advice from a disability employment consultant, modifying tools or tasks, providing extra support and allowing more time for a task to be finished. Young workers who have additional support needs may not do as well under pressure, so changing the work practices which exist around them can be helpful. Approaches which increase predictability and reduce environmental triggers and distractions can be helpful and are often easy and low cost options to implement. This includes doing things like moving a work station to a quieter part of the workplace, closing a door to reduce noise, altering start and finish times and doing a general tidy up to reduce clutter in the work area.
Some simple questions
Before young people set out into their first workplace, encourage them to consider these simple questions:
Do you know your rights and responsibilities for safety at work?
If there is a safety problem, what will you do first?
Who is the best person to talk to about safety at your workplace?
What are the policies and procedures that you must follow every day?
If you are unsure about how to do a task safely, will you stop and ask before you continue?
These questions can help young people to think about their own role and the role of others at work in maintaining safety. This encourages an attitude of 'safety, first and always' that will keep them safe in their first workplace and beyond.
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