Youth Week puts young workers’ safety in focus
10 Apr 2025•BlueSafe Team•Source: SafeWork NSW
SafeWork NSW is urging employers to use Youth Week to check that young workers receive appropriate training and supervision and feel able to raise safety concerns.
More than half a million people aged 25 and under work in NSW. Each year, more than 15,000 workers in this age group are injured at work, with workers compensation claims costing $60 million.
SafeWork NSW says businesses across sectors, including farming, hospitality and construction, must provide safe working environments. The regulator highlighted the human and financial costs of failing to protect young workers.
Head of SafeWork NSW Trent Curtin said workplace incidents can result in life-changing injuries, illness and death, with incidents involving young workers particularly distressing. He urged employers of young workers and work experience students to understand their obligations to protect and support their health and safety.
Curtin said young workers often have limited experience and are still developing physically and mentally. Their desire to make a good impression can also leave them hesitant to ask questions. He stressed the importance of making young people comfortable about raising concerns.
SafeWork’s advice to young workers is to stop and ask someone if they are unsure whether a task is safe or do not know how to perform it safely. Workers who are worried about raising an unsafe situation can report it anonymously through the Speak Up Save Lives webpage.
The regulator has developed a Young worker eToolkit with tips and training materials covering workplace safety rights and responsibilities. It also offers a YouTube video, Five rights you have as a young worker.
How Blue Safe can help: Our free WHS self-check can help you review your approach to workplace health and safety and identify areas that need closer attention when supporting young workers. Take the free WHS self-check