How educators can help young people stay safe at work

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How educators can help young people stay safe at
work
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• Too many young people are getting hurt at work
• Across Europe, 18-24-year-olds are at least 50
  more likely to have non-fatal accidents
  (Eurostat)
• Not just accidents - occupational health problems
  too

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• Behind the statistics - harrowing individual
  stories
• An 18-year-old apprentice mechanic died after
  being engulfed in flames
• A hairdressing apprentice reacted to the products
  she had to use her hands came out in cuts and
  blisters so that she could not even grip a knife
  and fork, and she had to give up the job
• Many accidents and health problems
• are preventable

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• Why are so many young people getting hurt at
  work?
• Young people
• Lack experience and maturity (physical and
  psychological), and lack awareness of risks
• Lack skills and training
• Unaware of their rights, and employers duties
• Reluctant to speak out
• Keen to please

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• Why are so many young people getting hurt at
  work?
• Employers
• Not taking account of young peoples
  vulnerability
• Not providing training, supervision, safeguards
• Giving young people unsuitable jobs to do

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• We all share responsibility for keeping young
  people safe
• This is a problem for
• Young people
• Parents
• Employers
• Educators
• Health and safety institutions
• Policymakers

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• We have to work together to give young people a
  safe and healthy start to their working lives

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• Employers responsibilities
• Legal responsibility for protecting health and
  safety of all employees
• Allowing for the particular vulnerability of
  young people

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• Special protection for under-18s
• Special regulations prevent under-18s from doing
  work which
• Exceeds their physical or mental capabilities
• Exposes them to toxic substances, radiation,
  extreme heat, noise, vibration
• Involves risks theyre unlikely to be aware of
  because of lack of experience, training

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• Young peoples responsibilities
• Safety isnt all down to employers
• Young people have a responsibility too, to take
  care of themselves and colleagues
• This means understanding risks and risk prevention

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• The role of educators
• Need to integrate - mainstream - occupational
  safety and health into education
• Cant wait until young people enter the workplace
  to teach them about risk awareness and prevention

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• The role of educators
• Need to reach young people early
• Many young people hurt in first few days at work
• Leaving safety training until they start work
  means putting them at greater risk
• Need to create a health and safety culture

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• The role of educators
• Mainstreaming health and safety in education
• Included in the European Community OSH Strategy
  2002-6
• Policymakers recognising its importance
• Experts have called for the first time for an
  EU-wide approach

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• The role of educators
• How do we integrate health and safety teaching in
  education?
• How do we reach young people?
• Plenty of examples in the Agency report,
  Mainstreaming Occupational Safety and Health
  into Education good practice in school and
  vocational education

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• Keys to success in mainstreaming
• Importance of buy-in from stakeholders
• Policymakers
• Schools
• Education departments
• Work placement services and training providers
• Employment Services
• Employers
• Trade unions

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• More keys to success
• Educators understanding health and safety issues
• Health and safety teaching throughout the
  curriculum, not a one-off or standalone topic
• An engaging approach - experience-based learning,
  interactive materials, adapted to students ages
  and capabilities

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• How the education community can contribute
• Read the Agency report -http//osha.eu.int
• Develop your own projects
• Get involved in Safe Start

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• Safe Start

• European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
  campaign 2006
• Dedicated to the occupational safety and health
  of young people
• Backed by
• EU 25 Member States
• Trade unions
• Employers organisations
• Youth organisations
• The education community

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• Safe Start

• Two areas of focus
• The workplace
• Employers and young people more aware of risk,
  and doing more to reduce it
• The education community
• Integrating safety and health in education,
  creating a culture of risk prevention

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• Safe Start

• Taking part in Safe Start
• Resources on the web - http//ew2006.osha.eu.int
• Multilingual information pack
• Fact sheets, leaflets, posters and stickers
• Online RISQ magazine for young people with
  quizzes, animations and information
• Resources, links and information

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• Safe Start

• Taking part in Safe Start
• Activities and events
• Risk assessments
• Suggestion schemes
• Poster competitions and quizzes
• Safety demonstrations, displays and exhibitions
• Training events, seminars and workshops
• Enterprises and education working together
• Hazard spotting and inspection days
• Press events and media activities

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• Safe Start

• Get involved, and help keep young people safe!