Focus on young worker safety

WorkCover NSW is urging businesses across the state to think about the safety of young workers as part of Safe Work Month.

Acting WorkCover CEO Rob Thomson said young workers aged under 25 have a higher risk of being injured on the job than older workers: “Young workers are often at a higher risk of injury because of their age and inexperience or a reluctance to speak up about safety concerns.

“Around 13% of all employment injuries and occupational diseases in NSW occur among the state’s 562,000 young workers and each day 15 young workers are injured at work.

“Although in 2007/08 there was a decrease in workplace injuries on the previous year, there were still 5600 compensation claims lodged by young workers, with manual handling injuries the most common, accounting for 13% of all injuries in 2007/08.

“Employers should ensure that young workers are provided with sufficient support to undertake their work safely, with particular attention paid to high-risk areas such as working at heights, using electrical equipment, plant and machinery and working with chemicals and dangerous goods.”

Employers, in consultation with their workers should:

• provide adequate training and supervision in all tasks;
• provide a comprehensive induction;
• identify safety risks and put in place procedures to reduce and control the risks; and
• encourage open communication about safety issues.

Young workers also have a responsibility to conduct their work safely and should:

• follow all safety procedures and ask questions if uncertain;
• report any risks and hazards to a supervisor or colleague;
• use safety equipment and protective clothing if needed; and
• find out how to report an injury.