WorkSafe launches new campaign to highlight the needs of young workers

The Victorian Government is asking employers to “see themselves through the eyes of a young worker” and ask “would you work for you?”

The new campaign aims to increase awareness of the challenges young workers face and highlight employers’ responsibilities to ensure their safety, and to remind employers that they must make sure young workers have the training and guidance to stay safe at work.

Young workers are particularly vulnerable due to their inexperience and reluctance to speak up if something is wrong or they don’t understand a task or instruction, WorkSafe noted. 

“Sadly, we still see cases where young workers suffer terrible injuries, so we’re asking employers to stop and think about the crucial role that they play in keeping young workers safe,” WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Narelle Beer said. 

Since 2018, 19 workers aged 15 to 24 years have died as a result of workplace incidents, while 2,240 young workers have been injured seriously enough to lodge a WorkCover claim since the start of this year.

The most common causes of injuries were being hit by moving objects, body stressing, and falls, trips and slips.

Employers who put the safety of young workers at risk because they fail to provide a safe workplace, including safe systems and appropriate information, instruction, and supervision, can face criminal charges, WorkSafe noted.

Since 2022, WorkSafe has completed 13 successful prosecutions for safety incidents involving apprentices/trainees. The prosecutions also include cases where young apprentices were injured after being left to work unsupervised.

The “Would you work for you?” campaign will run across print, radio, online and socials, including translations in 10 languages. 

For more information about safety for young workers, please see here.