In the build up to this years' European Week for Safety & Health at Work in October, focus has been put on the health and safety of young workers and employers are being asked to take part in the Safe Start Campaign.
The two main focuses of the campaign are as follows:
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For the young worker - To promote awareness in safety risks and raise awareness of Occupational Safety & Health (OSH) in young workers and what to do when starting work.
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For the employers - To provide safe and suitable work, training and supervision and being aware of what to do when a young person starts work.
Owing to the need for “awareness raising” and education from an early stage, education authorities can also contribute greatly in such areas as the following:
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Schools and colleges - promoting risk awareness and OSH as an integral part of education - preparing young people for their first day at work, and for their OSH responsibilities in their future careers.
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Youth organisations - promoting risk awareness and risk prevention as an integral part of their activities - preparing young people for the wider world of work.
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Vocational training centres - promoting risk awareness and OSH as an integral part of training - preparing young people for the world of work.
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Education authorities - promoting mainstreaming of OSH into education and youth employment policies, agreements and actions.
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Schools and colleges - promoting risk awareness and OSH as an integral part of education - preparing young people for their first day at work, and for their OSH responsibilities in their future careers.
Hans-Horst Konkolewsky, Director of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work said:
“Young persons are less likely to recognise the risk of accidents and even when they do, they may be less able to take appropriate action. And sometimes they are simply assigned to tasks beyond their capabilities or are not provided adequate training or supervision.
"We must take steps to ensure young people have a safe and healthy start to their working lives, and to promote risk awareness and risk prevention in enterprises, schools and colleges”.
We all know it makes sense to teach health and safety at the earliest age possible, so if you would like further information on how you and your organisation can help with the Safe Start Campaign, then please visit The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work Website, accessible by clicking the following:
European Week 2006 - About the campaign
Campaign materials, in various languages, can also be accessed from the website, by clicking the following:
European Week 2006 - Campaign materials
Further helpful information for young workers, employers etc can also be found in the WorkSafe Website, which is accessible by clicking the following:
WorkSafeBC Safety at Work Young Worker Information
Article by Alexandra Johnston
