Common behaviours of inexperienced but keen young workers

» Trying to show initiative by carrying out tasks without proper training.

» Not using personal protective equipment (PPE) in their rush to complete a task as quickly as possible.

» Attempting to lift or carry more than is safe.

» Not reporting safety hazards so as to avoid being seen as a ‘trouble maker’ or ‘complainer’.

» Not taking breaks in an attempt to show they are a ‘hard worker’.

» Poor housekeeping as a result of being in a hurry to complete a job and impress (eg. not putting equipment away, leaving cords out and other safety hazards).

Young people can usually identify a hazard just as well as older adults; it’s their ability to make a decision about what to do about the hazard that lags behind. This is because the part of the brain responsible for complex decision making (the cortex) is one of the last areas to fully mature.

INEX

PERI

ENC

E &

WA

NTI

NG

TO

IMPR

ESS

1“She wants to do more than she’s

capable of”Young people and safety at work:

INEXPERIENCE & WANTING TO IMPRESS

Young people bring energy and enthusiasm to a workplace, but they can also bring some specifi c challenges. One of these is their inexperience.

This can impact on work in a number of ways – including workplace safety.

Young workers don’t have a lot of experience with workplace safety risks. This means that they need to rely on imagining what might happen in a given situation without having experienced it for themselves.

Unfortunately, the part of the brain responsible for complex thinking and imagining outcomes is among the last to develop. This means that young people might fi nd it hard to work out what safety actions to take while still trying to impress the boss.

There are simple things you can do in a workplace to deal with the challenge of inexperienced but keen young workers. You’ll fi nd suggested strategies over the page.

INEX

PERI

ENC

E &

WA

NTI

NG

TO

IMPR

ESS

1

What other workplaces have done...

“We have a ‘Steps to Safety’ system for all new workers where you get a task card for your job with 5-10 key tasks listed in order from least to most risky. When you demonstrate you can do a task safely you get a stamp on your task card. You’re not allowed to work independently on tasks that aren’t stamped”.

“Our apprentices wear yellow hard hats and others wear white. It means we can easily identify someone who might need more supervision”.

“We don’t let our apprentices use a chainsaw until they’ve completed that module at TAFE. We need to see they’ve passed that subject in a safe environment [at TAFE] before we train them to use chainsaws as part of their work”.

“She wants to do more than she’s capable of”

INEXPERIENCE & WANTING TO IMPRESS

Strategies: Managing inexperienced young workers

» Gradually introduce tasks for a young worker from least risky to most risky over a period of months or even years. Give young people the chance to learn about the workplace while being exposed to low-level risks only.

» Be specifi c about what a young person can and can’t do. Instead of saying “Don’t lift more than you’re capable of”, say “This box requires a 2-person lift. Those can be lifted by a single person.”

» Make safety everyone’s priority. Young workers are strongly infl uenced by what others around them are doing. If their co-workers take safety seriously, so will they. Make sure all workers use the required personal protective equipment (PPE) correctly, that it is in good condition and that they are monitored through regular supervision. Encourage and reward all staff for reporting safety concerns.

» Have a written plan that shows young workers when and how they will progress. Include short term goals so they can see what they are achieving.

» Always provide opportunities to learn new skills in a supervised environment which allows beginners a margin of error.

YS050-1 (07/10)

Understanding how young people learn leads to better safety inductions and training

This material was developed by Youthsafe in partnership with The Group Training Association of NSW as part of a project funded under the WorkCover NSW WorkCover Assist Program. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of WorkCover NSW. © Youthsafe 2010