Quick Safety Tips: Why is it important to focus on new and young worker health and safety?

Summary

The video script highlights the increased risk of injury for new and young workers, who are three times more likely to be injured in their first month on the job. It emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the learning curve and the pressures to perform, which can lead to risky behaviors. The script calls for structured onboarding, training, and accountability for health and safety to mitigate this trend and support new workers in their vulnerable initial employment stage.

Takeaways

• 📈 Learning Curve: New activities or jobs come with a learning curve that requires time to develop skills and confidence.
• ⚠️ Injury Risk: New workers are three times more likely to be injured in their first month on the job, highlighting the need for caution and training.
• 🔑 Skills Development: Acquiring skills is essential for competent and confident performance in any new endeavor.
• 🏢 Workplace Pressure: Conscious and unconscious pressures to perform can lead to risky behaviors, especially among new employees.
• 👦 Young Workers' Eagerness: New and young workers may overlook hazards or take risks to impress and prove their value to the company.
• 👔 Employer Expectations: Employers and supervisors aim to get new employees up to speed as efficiently as possible, which can contribute to increased injury rates.
• 🛠️ Importance of Onboarding: Structured onboarding and training are crucial for supporting new workers during their vulnerable initial employment period.
• 👷‍♂️ Health and Safety: Everyone must be held accountable for their health and safety responsibilities to reduce the injury rates among new workers.
• 🚫 Risky Situations: New workers may unknowingly put themselves in risky situations due to lack of experience or understanding of potential hazards.
• 💼 Accountability: Employers must ensure that new workers are not only trained but also understand the importance of health and safety in the workplace.
• 🔄 Efficient and Safe Onboarding: A balance must be struck between getting new employees up to speed and ensuring they are trained in a safe and effective manner.

Q & A

Why are new workers more prone to injuries during their first month on the job?

New workers are more prone to injuries because they are still learning the ropes and may not be fully aware of the potential hazards in their new environment. They might also be eager to impress and thus take unnecessary risks.

What is the significance of acknowledging a learning curve in the workplace?

Acknowledging a learning curve is crucial as it helps employers and employees understand that it takes time to develop skills and become competent in a new role. This awareness can lead to better support and training for new workers.

Why might new and young workers put themselves in risky situations?

New and young workers might put themselves in risky situations because they are typically eager to impress and show their value to the company. They might overlook hazards or not report them due to fear of seeming incompetent.

What pressures do new workers face in the workplace that could lead to mistakes?

New workers face both conscious and unconscious pressures to perform well in their new roles. This pressure can lead to mistakes as they might rush through tasks or take shortcuts to meet expectations.

How can employers and supervisors help reduce the injury rate among new and young workers?

Employers and supervisors can help by providing appropriately structured onboarding and training programs. They should also hold everyone accountable for health and safety responsibilities to ensure a safe working environment.

What is the role of training in the onboarding process for new workers?

Training plays a critical role in the onboarding process as it helps new workers understand their job duties and the safety protocols. It equips them with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their tasks safely and efficiently.

Why is it important for new workers to be mindful of their health and safety responsibilities?

Being mindful of health and safety responsibilities is important as it not only protects the worker from potential injuries but also contributes to a safer work environment for everyone. It also helps in building a culture of safety within the organization.

How can new workers effectively communicate hazards they encounter in the workplace?

New workers can effectively communicate hazards by reporting them to their supervisors or through designated safety channels. They should be encouraged to speak up without fear of retribution, ensuring that potential risks are addressed promptly.

What are some common mistakes that new workers might make in their first month on the job?

Common mistakes might include misunderstanding job duties, misusing equipment, or overlooking safety protocols. These errors can often be attributed to a lack of experience and inadequate training.

How can the learning curve in a new role impact a worker's performance and safety?

The learning curve can impact a worker's performance as they may struggle to meet expectations while still learning the job. This can also affect their safety as they might take unnecessary risks or fail to recognize hazards due to inexperience.

What measures can be taken to ensure that new workers are not rushed into their roles?

Measures such as providing adequate training, setting realistic expectations, and encouraging a gradual learning process can help ensure that new workers are not rushed. Employers should also foster an environment that supports learning and growth.

Outlines

00:00

🚫 Injuries in New Workers

The paragraph highlights the increased risk of injuries for new workers in their first month on the job, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the learning curve and the need for proper onboarding and training. It discusses the pressures faced by new employees to perform well and impress their employers, which can lead to risky behavior or overlooking hazards. The paragraph underscores the responsibility of employers and supervisors to ensure a safe and efficient transition for new employees, ultimately aiming to reduce the high rate of injuries among this group.

Keywords

💡Learning Curve

The 'learning curve' refers to the process of acquiring new skills and knowledge over time. It is a fundamental concept in the video, illustrating the gradual improvement in performance as one becomes more familiar with a task or activity. In the context of the video, it highlights the importance of acknowledging the time and effort required for new employees to become competent in their roles, which is crucial for workplace safety.

💡New Hires

New hires are individuals who have recently joined an organization. The video emphasizes the vulnerability of new hires, as they are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job. This underscores the need for proper onboarding and training to ensure their safety and development.

💡Injuries

Injuries are physical damages or traumas that can occur in the workplace. The video script highlights the increased risk of injuries for new and young workers, making it a central theme. It serves as a call to action for employers to implement safety measures and training to protect these employees.

💡Onboarding

Onboarding is the systematic process of integrating new employees into an organization. The video script suggests that appropriately structured onboarding is essential for supporting new workers, particularly during their vulnerable initial employment stage, to reduce the likelihood of injuries.

💡Training

Training involves the development of skills and knowledge that employees need to perform their job duties effectively. The video emphasizes the importance of training in conjunction with onboarding to equip new workers with the necessary competencies and awareness of safety protocols.

💡Accountability

Accountability implies being responsible for one's actions or decisions. In the video, it is mentioned as a key factor in ensuring health and safety responsibilities are met, thus reducing the high rate of injuries among new and young workers.

💡Young Workers

Young workers are typically early-career individuals who may lack experience in the workplace. The video script points out that young workers, like new hires, are at a higher risk of injury, indicating the need for special attention and support during their initial period of employment.

💡Risk

Risk in the context of the video refers to the possibility of harm or danger, particularly in relation to workplace safety. New and young workers may unknowingly put themselves in risky situations due to their eagerness to impress, which the video script identifies as a factor contributing to the high injury rate.

💡Hazard

A hazard is a potential source of danger or harm. The video script mentions that new workers might not report hazards they encounter, which could lead to accidents. It is an important concept as it relates to the need for awareness and communication about potential dangers in the workplace.

💡Impress

To impress in this context means to make a strong positive impact, often to gain approval or recognition. The video script notes that new and young workers might take on risky tasks without speaking up about potential hazards in their eagerness to impress their employers, which can be counterproductive to their safety.

💡Efficiency

Efficiency refers to the state of being able to perform without waste of time and energy. Employers and supervisors are described in the video as wanting to get new employees up to speed as efficiently as possible. However, the script also implies that this drive for efficiency must be balanced with the need for thorough training and safety considerations.

Highlights

Errors are common when trying new activities, including potential serious injuries.

New workers are three times more likely to be injured in their first month on the job.

There is a learning curve for any new task or role.

Skills need to be developed to perform tasks competently and confidently.

Workplace pressures can lead to unconscious risks and errors.

New and young workers may take risks or overlook hazards to impress their employers.

Employers and supervisors aim to get new employees up to speed efficiently.

High injury rates among new and young workers are a significant concern.

Structured onboarding and training are crucial for supporting new workers.

Accountability for health and safety is necessary to reduce injury rates.

New workers should be mindful of the learning process and potential risks.

Employers should provide adequate training to mitigate risks for new employees.

The eagerness of new workers to prove themselves can lead to unsafe practices.

It's important to recognize the vulnerability of new workers in their initial employment stage.

Proper onboarding can help reduce the likelihood of injuries for new workers.

Employers must ensure that new workers are aware of their health and safety responsibilities.

The initial period of employment is a critical time for new workers' safety.

Transcripts

- Much the same as anyone trying at a new hobby, sport,

or even a recipe for the first time,

there's a high likelihood that errors will be made.

Unfortunately, sometimes those errors

go beyond missing a pass to your teammate

or mixing up the salt and sugar in your cookies

and can result in some serious injuries.

This is especially important to consider

when we look at someone who is starting a new job

or taking on expanded or new roles within a workplace

as we know that workers who are new to a job

are three times more likely to be injured

during their first month on the job relative

to their coworkers.

It is critical to acknowledge that there is a learning curve

to anything we take on

and that skills need to be developed in order

to be able to do anything competently and confidently.

There are always conscious and unconscious pressures

to perform in the workplace,

which makes it all the more important to remain mindful

of this in all fronts.

New and young workers may put themselves in risky situations

or not even mention hazards they come across

as they're typically eager to impress and show their value

to a company right off the bat.

On the other side of things,

employers and supervisors are also looking

to get someone up to speed with their job duties

as efficiently as possible.

All of these factors contribute to the observed high rate

of injuries amongst new and young workers.

Appropriately structured onboarding and training

to support new and young workers

in this vulnerable stage of employment

and holding everyone accountable

to their health and safety responsibilities is necessary

in order to reduce this unfortunate trend.