Gaining early work experience over the summer holidays is a great way for young people to kick start their careers or try new activities. On the other hand if the focus is on learning new job skills and making a good impression, safety can fall by the wayside. It is our responsibility as adults to make sure that young people think and act with safety in the forefront of their minds.

Parents

Parents have a responsibility to talk to their children about workplace hazards. Encourage them to think about potential hazards in the workplace, such as unguarded machinery, chemical products, tools, working alone, working at heights, and any other hazard that applies to their job. Engage them in conversation about their work. Find out about the tasks they perform; what training and induction they receive; what equipment, tools or chemicals they work with and how they protect themselves; and whether the supervisor keeps them informed on how to avoid injury.

Talk to your children about their rights and responsibilities for safety at work, and the responsibilities of their supervisors and employers. In particular, they should know they have a legal right to be informed about workplace hazards and how to protect themselves; a right to participate in activities that will improve their working conditions; and a right to refuse unsafe work.

Employers

Hiring a young worker means taking the time to provide thorough safety training specific to the job tasks, and letting the worker know that safety is more important than productivity. When the boss clearly cares, a young worker is less likely to rush through a job and neglect safety just to make a good impression.