In yesterday’s Advisor, we got expert advice on employers’ responsibilities, including training, to keep young workers safe. Today, we outline in more detail the areas in which young workers need to be trained.
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As we detailed yesterday, statistics show that young workers are twice as likely to be injured on the job as older employees. Young workers may be injured because they lack the following:
- Job experience
- Knowledge
- Skills
- Understanding of risks, safety rules, and procedures
- Good judgment and impulse control
- Safety training
You can help make up for many of these deficits by ensuring that supervisors train young workers how to do jobs correctly and safely. Overall, supervisors should:
- Never assume that a young worker will understand what could go wrong.
- Recognize that young workers may not always follow the rules.
- Demonstrate job procedures and safety precautions.
- Take the time to clearly explain the risks of not following the proper steps.
- Train one-to-one with young workers and observe them performing tasks.
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If a task involves using or working around any kind of equipment, supervisors should demonstrate how to use the equipment safely and explain such essential safety precautions as:
- Proper use of machine guards
- Procedure for starting and stopping equipment
- Procedures for feeding and removing materials safely
- How to report equipment problems
- Leaving machine and electrical repair and maintenance to trained, authorized people
Other safety issues on which young workers must be trained include:
- Keeping areas clear around exit doors and sprinklers
- Keeping aisles and other walkways clear of obstacles
- Cleaning up spills promptly (for example, water, coffee, and lubricants, but not hazardous material spills, which should be reported and cleaned up by trained and properly equipped workers)
- Lifting properly (powering the lift with legs, not back)
- Checking labels and, if available, safety data sheets (SDS) for chemicals, cleaning products, and other materials to identify hazards and safety precautions
- Placing tools, sharp objects, and other potentially harmful items in their proper locations—and never where they could accidentally fall, puncture, or cause other injuries
- When and how to use personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as where to get it, how to inspect it, and how to remove and store it properly
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Young workers must also be trained on what to do in an emergency and should be familiar with:
- Emergency action plan
- Fire alarms
- Emergency exits and evacuation routes
- How to report emergencies
- Location of fire extinguishers and first-aid kits