Young Worker Safety & Employer OHS Obligations

Would You Work For You?

Did you know young workers have the highest chance of being injured in the first six months of starting a new job? Every day, a potential 200 young workers (aged 15-24 years old) join the workforce. They have the highest likelihood of sustaining an injury within the first six months of starting a new job, often due to a lack of experience. WorkSafe’s new ‘Would You Work For You?’ campaign aims to raise awareness of the vulnerability of young workers and employers’ OHS obligations to this at-risk group.

Construction is the top industry where young workers make injury claims. Last year, 23% of all claims made by young workers were in the construction industry.

“Construction is the top industry where young workers make injury claims. Last year, 23% of all claims made by young workers were in the construction industry.”

Some of the extra factors that can increase the risk of young workers getting injured at work are:

• Being new to a job or at the start of their career • Being less familiar with their OHS rights and responsibilities
• Lack of OHS training and supervision
• Less experience than others in the workforce
• Feeling afraid to speak up about OHS matters
• Not knowing how to report OHS issues at work
• Being pressured by other employees’ unsafe work behaviour.

When young workers know that health and safety is important in the workplace, they are more likely to follow safety procedures, raise issues and promote a culture that keeps everyone safe. Young workers look to leaders and co-workers to better understand workplace health and safety culture.

Safety culture starts with leaders who value and model safe behaviour at work. Leaders can do this by:

• Identifying hazards and acting quickly to fix them before they become a risk to physical or mental health
• Finding safer ways to work
• Showing their commitment to safety by complying with OHS duties
• Prioritising and responding to safety-related issues or concerns
• Having regular talks about OHS matters and encouraging everyone to report unsafe work or workplace hazards
• Breaking down barriers to reporting, such as fear of retribution
• Promoting safety culture by displaying targeted safety information or installing guides and reminders in high-risk areas.

Learn more about employer OHS obligations to their young workers here.