Fact sheets on these topics are available from your Group Training Company

“I don’t understand why

they’re doing this!”Young people and safety at work:

INFORMATION FOR HOST EMPLOYERS

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Young people bring energy and enthusiasm to a workplace and as they grow you will see your investment in them pay off many times over. At the same time, supporting young workers as they develop can bring some specifi c challenges.

Recent research shows that young people’s brains are still developing until well into their 20s. This can impact on work in a number of ways – including workplace safety.

Understanding young workers – the key to safety

The part of the brain responsible for complex decision making and planning is one of the last areas to fully develop – often well into the 20s, which can make it hard to work independently.

Wanting to impress the boss and co-workers by showing initiative can mean attempting tasks without proper training.

Young workers can fi nd it hard to fully grasp risks so they may make impulsive decisions.

Young people are especially vulnerable to the effects and risks of alcohol and drugs.

Young people often don’t speak up at work due to nerves and not yet feeling comfortable with the workplace, the boss and their co-workers.

Emotional maturity is still developing so young workers can fi nd it hard to make safe decisions when ‘emotional’ or stressed.

Early adulthood can be stressful. It’s also a time

when many mental illnesses fi rst appear.

The sleep hormone melatonin is produced later at night in young people – making it harder to wind down at night and a struggle to wake up in the morning.

What other workplaces have done...

“I fi nd note books really handy for younger workers. If I’m taking them through something I tell them to write it down so they understand it’s important. If it’s safety related there’s another advantage – we have documentation to show that we’ve talked about the risks and how best to manage them.”

“There’s one machine in our factory that I really worry about. When our apprentice uses it I have to be right by his side. I’ve told him it’s not that I don’t trust him, it’s just that I am honestly worried about him getting hurt and I don’t want to have to call his mum and tell her he’s in hospital”.

“I don’t understand why they’re doing this!”

Young people and safety at work: INFORMATION FOR HOST EMPLOYERS

YS050-B (07/10)

Young workers between the age of 15 and 25 are more likely to be injured at work than any other

age group.

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This material was developed by Youthsafe in partnership with The Group Training Association of NSW as part of a project funded under the WorkCover NSW WorkCover Assist Program. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of WorkCover NSW. © Youthsafe 2010

Strategies for improving safety with young workers

» Good communication is crucial. Talk to your young worker as much as possible. Provide positive and constructive feedback regularly, and avoid communicating only when things go wrong.

» Be very specifi c – instead of saying, “Don’t lift more than you’re capable of” say, “This box requires a 2-person lift. That one can be lifted by a single person.”

» Be consistent with following disciplinary procedures. Be aware that ignoring dangerous behaviours and pranks sends a message to young workers that the behaviour is acceptable.

» Link young workers with a mentor from the fi rst day – someone they can go to (other than their boss) to ask questions and not look silly. Pick mentors carefully – the best mentors are not necessarily the best at their profession – they are safe workers and good communicators with supportive personalities.

» Reassure young workers that preventing them from undertaking dangerous tasks is not because you don’t think they’re a good worker. Be honest about high-risk jobs and

your concern that no-one gets hurt. Explain when and how they can undertake the task later.

» Ask your Field Offi cer for advice if your approach regarding safety doesn’t seem to be working with a young person. Field Offi cers have lots of experience with young workers and can probably suggest a few different strategies to try.