Edition 39, October 2006

Young people and risky business

More young people will soon enter workplaces around the country as students begin holiday work and high school graduates enter the workforce for the first time. This influx of young workers can present particular occupational health and safety challenges for employers.

Children and young workers (those aged between 15 and 25) can be especially vulnerable to workplace hazards, often lacking the experience and familiarity with general workplace procedures that inform the work tasks and decision-making of other workers. Potential hazards like manual tasks, noise, chemicals, workplace violence and harassment, industrial equipment and machinery may present greater risks for young people than for their more experienced and trained colleagues.

While occupational licensing helps to minimise workplace risk for particularly hazardous occupations, occupational health and safety legislation requires employers to ensure that all workers receive the necessary instruction, training and supervision to perform their jobs safely and without risks to health.

To fulfil their duty of care requirements towards young workers, employers should consider specially targeted training and induction programs. A number of free online resources are available to help.

Organisation

Resource

Website

WorkSafe Victoria

Get the NAC�safety basics for work experience students, including quizzes, tests and a teacher manual

www.workcover.vic.gov.au/vwa/home.nsf/pages/work_experience_kit

WorkCover NSW

Safety website for young workers�desktop and mobile phone downloads and Don�t risk it game

www.youngworkers.com.au

Safety at work: A guide for young workers in hospitality

www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/Publications/Industry/Hospitality/YoungWorkersGuide.htm

Workplace Health and Safety Queensland

Safety Sense

www.whs.qld.gov.au/safetysense/ssgen1.htm

Children and Young Workers Code of Practice 2006

www.dir.qld.gov.au/workplace/law/codes/youngworkers/index.htm

Western Australian Department of Consumer and Employer Protection

WorkSafe Smart Move� information on hazards in major industries for work experience/placement students

www.safetyline.wa.gov.au/pagebin/edcnwssm0018.htm

For more resources on young workers and occupational health and safety visit the Victorian Trades Hall Council's occupational health and safety website at www.ohsrep.org.au/index.cfm and the page dedicated to young people and occupational health and safety at www.ohsrep.org.au/index.cfm?section=9&Category=80&viewmode=content&contentid=1217

This page was generated on 26 August, 2009