Introduction

Young workers bring energy, innovation, and enthusiasm to the workplace, but they also face unique safety challenges due to limited experience, physical and cognitive development, and unfamiliarity with workplace hazards. This course is designed to equip organizations with the tools to protect and empower youth employees, ensuring their safety, compliance with regulations, and a strong foundation for professional growth.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

1. Understand the unique risks and challenges faced by young workers.
2. Learn how to design safety programs tailored for youth employment.
3. Gain knowledge of legal requirements, including child labor laws and safety standards.
4. Explore effective training and mentoring techniques for young workers.
5. Address emerging trends and technologies to enhance youth safety.
6. Develop a youth employment safety plan that fosters a culture of safety and learning.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• HR professionals and youth employment coordinators
• Workplace managers and supervisors
• Health and safety officers
• Educational institutions and youth program leaders
• Policy makers and regulators
• Employers hiring young or first-time workers

Advanced 5-Day Course Outline

Day 1: Understanding Youth Employment Risks

• Session 1: Characteristics of the Youth Workforce

  • Common roles for young employees across industries
  • Physical, cognitive, and social factors influencing safety

• Session 2: Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

  • Child labor laws, OSHA standards, and international guidelines
  • Employer responsibilities for youth safety compliance

• Session 3: Common Hazards and Risk Factors for Youth Workers

  • Physical, chemical, and ergonomic hazards
  • Psychosocial risks, including stress, bullying, and communication gaps

Day 2: Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategies

• Session 1: Conducting Risk Assessments for Youth Roles

  • Identifying hazards specific to youth workers
  • Tools and techniques for assessing risks

• Session 2: Developing Targeted Safety Controls

  • Implementing engineering, administrative, and behavioral controls
  • Case studies: Success stories in reducing youth employment hazards

• Session 3: Special Considerations for High-Risk Industries

  • Agriculture, construction, retail, and food service safety challenges
  • Group activity: Designing safety solutions for industry-specific scenarios

Day 3: Training and Mentorship Programs for Young Workers

• Session 1: Effective Safety Training for Youth

  • Customizing training content for younger audiences
  • Interactive and engaging training methods

• Session 2: The Role of Mentorship in Youth Safety

  • Establishing mentor-mentee relationships for safety support
  • Practical session: Designing a mentorship program for youth employees

• Session 3: Communication Strategies for Young Workers

  • Encouraging questions, feedback, and reporting of hazards
  • Role-playing exercise: Delivering safety instructions to young workers

Day 4: Fostering a Culture of Safety and Development

• Session 1: Building an Inclusive Safety Culture

  • Encouraging teamwork, respect, and accountability
  • Strategies to integrate youth workers into the broader safety culture

• Session 2: Promoting Professional and Personal Growth

  • Balancing safety training with skill-building opportunities
  • Discussion: Empowering youth employees to take ownership of their safety

• Session 3: Responding to Incidents and Providing Support

  • Incident reporting, investigation, and follow-up for young workers
  • Addressing mental health and stress post-incident

Day 5: Preparing for the Future of Youth Employment

• Session 1: Emerging Trends in Youth Employment Safety

  • Gig economy, automation, and remote work considerations
  • Incorporating technology, such as mobile apps and wearables, for youth safety

• Session 2: Continuous Improvement and Policy Development

  • Updating safety policies and procedures based on feedback and trends
  • Best practices for engaging young employees in safety committees

• Session 3: Developing a Comprehensive Youth Employment Safety Plan

  • Group project: Creating a safety plan tailored to a youth workforce scenario
  • Presentations and constructive feedback

Conclusion and Next Steps

• Certification of completion
• Access to resources, templates, and training materials for youth safety programs
• Networking opportunities with industry peers and safety experts