6 Employer Tips to Keep New and Young Workers Safe

New and young workers entering the workforce bring fresh perspectives to various industries. While new and young workers bring enthusiasm to the workplace, they are also more vulnerable to workplace injuries and hazards due to a lack of experience and training. This surge in new entrants presents an opportunity for employers to instill good workplace safety habits from the onset of their careers, helping to protect these individuals from workplace hazards and ensuring a safe and healthy start to their jobs. This blog explores six helpful tips for employers to ensure new and young workers stay safe.   

#1: Educate Employees on Identifying Hazards 

All employees, regardless of the length of their contracts, have the fundamental right to know about potential health and safety hazards. Employees must learn their right to report unsafe practices and situations to supervisors during their initial training. Beyond the responsibility to report health and safety hazards and refuse unsafe work, new and young workers need to know how to identify when a situation could be hazardous. To ensure everyone’s safety, workers must receive training in identifying hazardous situations and knowing who to report to. When workers know how to identify a hazard, they can determine if work is safe and report it to their supervisor before there is a chance for an injury.    

#2: Provide Comprehensive Training 

Providing new and young workers with comprehensive training is essential for their safety, well-being, and success in the workplace. Just as new permanent full-time employees require thorough onboarding, new and young workers on temporary contracts also need a comprehensive introduction to their roles and responsibilities. Training equips workers with the skills and knowledge to perform their tasks safely and efficiently. Training needs to highlight company safety protocols in depth. Another benefit of training is that it instills confidence and autonomy in new and young workers. We encourage employers to invest in training because it can help prevent incidents, enhance productivity, and foster a workplace culture that promotes safety.   

#3: Clearly Define Job Roles 

Comprehensive training is more than identifying hazards. It is also about clearly defining job roles, or in other words, teaching employees to do their jobs and only their jobs. If a worker deviates from their assigned duties, they may encounter additional hazards for which they are unprepared. To address this, we encourage employers to ensure that roles are defined so new and young workers understand what is and is not their role. When job roles are clearly defined, workers can focus on their specific duties and avoid potential exposure to hazards they are unequipped to control. 

#4: Provide Supervision 

Close supervision and support are vital in ensuring new and young workers’ safety. Employers, are your supervisors around to ensure that your workers are safe? Supervisors ensure that new and young workers receive proper training, guidance, and feedback. We recommend that supervisors foster a culture of open communication. Open communication will encourage workers to ask questions, report concerns, and seek support when needed.  

It is also important to introduce new and young workers to the other workers in the department and clearly explain what to do if their supervisor is unavailable. In some workplaces, new employees are paired with a formal mentor who helps them learn their new roles. Often, the mentor is an individual with substantial work experience. These experienced workers can be a valuable resource to help teach new and young workers about their new jobs. 

#5: Promote a Culture of Open Communication 

Open communication is essential for creating a safe and supportive work environment for new and young workers. When workers are comfortable sharing concerns, asking questions, and reporting incidents, two benefits arise: Empowered workers build trust with their employer, and employers gain the ability to address concerns. We believe there are no stupid questions in health and safety. When employees are unsure about anything, they should feel comfortable asking for clarification. 

#6: Ensure that Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is used 

Ensuring that new and young workers are wearing PPE is crucial. PPE serves as a vital barrier between workers and workplace hazards. For PPE to be effective, it must be fitted to the individual worker. Not all PPE will work for all body shapes and sizes. Some workers, especially young people, may need different-sized PPE. During training, a worker needs to learn how to select PPE that fits their body and how to assess if the PPE they have provides optimum protection. By providing PPE and enforcing its use, employers can promote best practices regarding workplace safety. Additionally, emphasizing the importance of PPE use instills a culture of safety and responsibility, encouraging young workers to prioritize their well-being. 

In conclusion, ensuring the safety and well-being of new and young workers is a shared responsibility that requires a multifaceted approach. By providing comprehensive training and supervision, fostering a culture of open communication, clearly defining job roles, and ensuring proper PPE use, employers can create a supportive and safe work environment. 

How Can HSPI Help? 

We offer a variety of training courses to support New and Young Workers entering the workforce.   

• New and Young Worker Health and Safety Training 

Reach out to us using our contact form to learn more about resources available for new and young workers.