Work safety for young part time workers: Developing an assessment tool and testing an intervention

Paid employment is an integral aspect of life for many young people. Better safety preparation for young workers is one key aspect of reducing their risk for work injuries. A total of 132 full time college students (57% female), working part time, mean age of 23 years, participated in the study. The DPSEEA( Driving forces, Pressures, State, Exposure, Effects, Actions) conceptual model provided an environmental lens to view injury prevention. Using a randomized, longitudinal design, a new measurement tool SWSAT( Student Work Safety Assessment Tool), youth safety knowledge and attitudes before ( T1) after ( T2) Occupational Health Safety training and at 3 months following training (T3) was assessed. The intervention group (n=68) completed an enhanced on-line OHS training along with the regular OHS training given to the comparison group (n=64). Descriptive analysis sheds light on the nature of part time work for youth including job characteristics, work environments, knowledge of work hazards, personal injury and near miss experiences and workplace safety preparation and youth recommendations for marketing safety. Factor analysis was conducted on the SWSAT measurement tool. Inferential statistics,(ANCOVA, multi-level modeling) showed minimal differences between the intervention and comparison group on three main safety knowledge concepts at the end of 3 months. However, the on-line work safety program may cue youth to be alert to their individual work environment. Nurses need evidence to advocate for health promotion and with young people working and studying simultaneously; work safety is a place where more public health nurses need to be.