Young workers are great employees. They are eager and keen to work.

But you should keep in mind this could be their first job, or maybe a completely different job than they had before. Generally speaking, young workers are excited to work, and the last thing they want is to disappoint you.

So they might not always raise safety concerns. That means it’s up to you to make sure they’re aware of the dangers and safety precautions in the workplace.

You should be talking about safety from day one. If you hire seasonal students, a student orientation is a good idea. And keep the conversation fresh now and then too.

Remember, young workers don’t have a lot of experience. But they are quick to act and eager to take on new projects.

They may not ask questions because they have a lot on their mind – school projects, boyfriends or girlfriends, their last text message.They just want to get the job done. Plus, they want you to think they can handle it.

So how do you make young workers understand why workplace safety is important?

First, you have to believe it yourself. And it needs to be a priority in your workplace. At worksafeforlife.ca, you’ll find our Preventing Workplace Injury package – with lots of tips, tools, and documents about getting your policy and your program off the ground.

If you’re already there or it’s out of your hands at head office, you can start with things like good team meetings. Introduce your young workers to Rod Stickman. Fun, a little quirky, and packed with information (plus a cow, a bear, and a monkey) our downloadable Rod Stickman videos cover big issues in workplace safety, in an entertaining way. They’re a great way to get the conversation about safety started, for young workers and veterans alike.

You can also download posters to display at your workplace, use our video discussion guide to start the conversation and explore much more safety information at worksafeforlife.ca.

Here are some other points to keep in mind:

  • Don’t expect young people to speak up. Remember how you felt on your first job. If they feel unsafe, you may not know until it’s too late.
  • About half of young workers haven’t talked about safety with their boss. Make your workplace part of the other half.
  • Be aware of Nova Scotia’s regulations – the Labour Standards Code, working alone, workplace violence, WHMIS. They’re all online. They’re all the law.

Creating a safe workplace takes more than a handout at your staff meeting. Employers need to work with their supervisors to show and practice ongoing commitment.

  • Train, train, train. Invest the time up front on job-specific safety training.  Your workers should know what can hurt them, and how to avoid it. Of course, they also need to know emergency procedures.
  • Talk about your policy and your program in plain language. Say things like “If you see something dangerous, tell me about it.” or “Any time you feel unsafe, make sure you tell me, no matter what. Your safety comes first.”
  • Make safety a part of service.  Young workers often feel the need to impress, and with work and time pressures they’ll sometimes take short cuts, like chopping food too quickly, moving too many grocery carts or climbing shelving instead of using a ladder.   Good service includes time for safety.  Doing otherwise means injuries for workers and costs for employers.
  • WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training is mandatory for jobs involving chemicals and other hazardous materials.
  • Have a buddy system. Pair young workers with experienced workers. This can help them feel comfortable asking questions.
  • Make safety a priority yourself. What they see matters as much as what they hear to a generation raised on TV and music videos. So wear your hardhat, buckle up in the company truck, talk about safety at every meeting. Little things matter.

Remember, keeping your people safe at work is your job. So start the conversation about workplace safety.