Online resources to support young worker safety

There are more than half a million people aged up to 25 who have entered the NSW workforce; Minister for Fair Trading Eleni Petinos said that approximately 15,000 of those workers are injured every year, accounting for 14% of all workplace injuries and costing $60 million in workers compensation. In response, SafeWork NSW has released a free online toolkit for young workers across the state, with tailored information to support their safety.

Petinos encouraged employers and workers to access the Young Workers eToolkit, which contains tips and training materials about work safety rights and responsibilities. “We must protect our working youth and ensure they have the support, supervision and guidance for a safe work environment. The free eToolkit has resources available for young workers, employers, parents, guardians and educators. Regardless of how they are employed or in which industry, young workers need extra support to ensure they are carrying out tasks correctly and safely to prevent injury or even death. Now more than ever we need to be supporting working youth as they enter the workforce and move jobs due to the pandemic,” said Petinos.

Minister for Regional Youth Ben Franklin said the online toolkit will help make the transition from school to work easier, particularly for young workers living in smaller communities. Franklin said that although it is important to give young people every opportunity to improve their skills when they enter the workforce, it is also important to keep their health and safety front of mind. “The Young Workers eToolkit will help better ensure the health and safety of young workers by educating them on the impact of injury, and how it can best be prevented,” said Franklin.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/eric