Safety Education - New and Young Workers

Do you employ workers that are:

• starting their first job?
• trainees or apprentices?
• re-entering the workforce after a break for study or family commitments?
• work experience students, vocational education and training (VET) students, or students doing a workplace learning program while still attending school?
• changing careers?
• relocating to a new department, workplace or location within the same company?

If so, you should give some thought to some of the health and safety aspects of being a new worker.

Why new workers have different needs

Starting a new job isn’t easy. There’s so much to learn — from the boss’s name to how to use the saw and the all-important location of the tearoom.

The workplace can be a dangerous place where new workers are faced with hazards such as moving machinery, scaffolds, chemicals and stress in their day-to-day tasks.

Young workers are particularly vulnerable because although they’re eager to impress their boss and new workmates, their life skills and levels of experience and judgment are not well developed.

New worker resources

WorkCover Tasmania has resources to help you focus on some of the health and safety aspects for new workers.  For more information click here or telephone the Helpline on 1300 366 322.