AUSTRALIA Takes Measures to Protect Teens at Work

New Kit Helps Teachers Prep Secondary School Students on Work Safety
Teachers in South Australia now have a new kit to help them prepare secondary school students in making the transition to work safely. Statistics show young people are more likely to be injured at work and are often unfamiliar with workplace hazards and safety procedures, including their rights regarding working conditions.

The Teachers’ Toolbox was officially launched by the Presiding Member of the SafeWork SA Advisory Committee, Tom Phillips, who noted, “Inexperience, and sometimes anxiety about job security, often puts young workers at greater risk of harm in the workplace. Inexperience means they can’t identify a hazard, while insecurity leaves them afraid to speak up if they see a hazard. We hope the Teachers’ Toolbox will address that, by helping teachers fill that knowledge gap before young people start work experience or part-time jobs.”

The kit can be used either as a stand-alone resource or in conjunction with other planned lessons and features a range of materials to ensure young people are properly informed about their rights and responsibilities regarding their safety at work.

The kit was developed by SafeWork SA with the assistance of the Department of Education and Children’s Services’ Futures Connect Program. Several experienced teachers were also consulted and contributed some of their successful lesson plans and activities. The kit features teaching notes, case studies, student activities and videos. (workersxzcompxzkit)

“This is a good example of a resource developed for teachers by teachers with tried and tested materials,” Phillips added. “Sections of the Toolbox have already been tried in schools, with good response from the teachers and students. Appropriately, the Teachers Toolbox aligns with, and complements, other resources available to students and young workers such as the Passport to Safety learning and test program, for high school students about to enter work or work experience, and the Youth@Work website.”

Author Robert Elliott, executive vice president, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, health care, manufacturing, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or 860-553-6604.

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Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws vary. You should consult with your insurance broker about workers’ comp issues.