Safety priorities for new and young workers in the workplace
Contents
1. Safety priorities for new and young workers in the workplace
'Young people' includes those leaving school and starting work for the first time (encompassing apprenticeships and traineeships); those employed on a casual basis or working part-time outside school hours; work experience, vocational and training students; and children who visit the workplace (but may not necessarily be 'workers').
When assessing risks to young people, special factors to consider are:
- the size of the person and their level of physical maturity;
- their general behaviour and psychological maturity;
- their work experience and training;
- their ability to make mature judgements about their own safety and the safety of others; and
- their ability to cope with unexpected, stressful situations.
With the high rates in lost time injury for New and Young Workers, one of the department's seven priority areas is to focus on their safety in the workplace.
When our inspectors visit your workplace they will pay particular attention as to whether you are meeting your 'duty of care' in respect of any new and young workers.
They will be looking for evidence that you have specifically assessed risk factors in respect of new and young workers, as well as fulfilling your legal responsibilities under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1984.
The aim is for employers to prevent accidents by identifying the hazards, assessing the risks, and dealing with them before new and young workers are exposed.
In respect to information, instruction and training, it is your responsibility to provide this before a new or young worker starts work. Similarly, your induction of new and young workers must ensure they understand emergency procedures and how to seek help in the event of an accident or injury. This instruction must be specific and relevant to your workplace and working conditions.
In their inspection, the department's inspectors will be looking for the six key elements presented in the checklist below. These deal with many of the common problems affecting new and young workers that WorkSafe Western Australia has found in workplaces. The elements of the checklist do not cover all mandatory requirements under workplace safety and health laws. However, following the same checklist yourself will assist you to identify any shortcomings in your procedures or training and to correct or update them, thus getting you started on meeting your safety and health responsibilities.
In looking at the safety of new and young workers and all workplace safety matters, please remember the three ThinkSafe steps:
- Spot the hazard
- Assess the risk
- Make the changes
2. Checklist
Information, instruction and training
Emergency procedures
- Have you provided information, instruction and training in emergency evacuation and other emergency procedures?
Hazard and accident reporting
- Have you provided information and instruction in hazard reporting and accident reporting procedures?
Workplace hazards and job specific safe work practices
- Have you provided information, instruction and training in how to reduce the risk of injury or harm from hazards that new and young workers may be exposed to in the course of their work?
Personal protective clothing and equipment
- Have you provided information, instruction and training in the use, maintenance and storage of personal protective clothing and equipment?
Supervision
Safety instructions are followed
- Are supervisors ensuring that new and young workers are working in accordance with safety instructions (including avoiding skylarking; initiation ceremonies; bullying etc)?
Young visitors
Access and movement of visitors is controlled
- Have you taken steps to ensure that the risk of injury or harm to visitors is reduced by means appropriate to your workplace and type of work activity?
3. More information
You can download a copy of the Bulletin - Young workers or for further information about young people in the workplace, contact WorkSafe on 1300 307 877.