How To Protect Young Workers in the Workplace
There are more than 1.5 million U.S. workers aged 15-17 years old, and these workers are twice as likely to be injured than their adult coworkers. Every nine minutes a young worker is injured on the job, and each year over 59,800 workers under the age of 18 are sent to the ER for job-related injuries.
Given that young workers are new to the workforce and unfamiliar with common workplace hazards, they need safety training and guidance to protect themselves and their coworkers.
To reduce the level of injury to young workers and encourage conversations about workplace safety, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) offer Safety Matters: a safety and health training program for young workers.
Through the below resources you can learn more about Safety Matters and access expert guidance and resources for learning more about how to protect young workers from workplace hazards.
Young Worker Training Websites
Talking Safety, Teaching Young Workers About Job Safety and Health. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) curriculum.
Teenagers Are Injured at Twice the Rate of Adult Workers (The Synergist digital magazine article)
Young Worker Safety and Health (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention resources)
The New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH)
The Work Safe Work Smart Curriculum by the Minnesota Department of Health
Health and Safety Awareness Websites for Working Teens
The University of Washington's, Health and Safety Awareness for Working Teens (HSAWT) program
YouthRules website, sponsored by the United States Department of Labor
The California Resource Network for Young Workers’ Health and Safety