Assessing Long-Term Impacts of Young Worker Safety and Health Training

This study evaluates the need for, and impact of, workplace safety training to mitigate the occurrence of occupational injuries and fatalities of young workers. The study also assesses young worker perception of workplace safety following the completion of training. Young workers (ages 15-24) compromise approximately 13% of the US labor force. Despite working fewer hours than adults, young workers suffer a disproportionately higher rate of work-related injuries. The participation of young workers in the workforce is important, as it enables young persons to develop work experience and a work ethic. Still, occupational hazards encountered by this cohort remain a threat, as inadequate or altogether absent safety training increases their vulnerability to preventable accidents. Georgia Tech Research Institute's Center for Young Worker Safety and Health at GTRI adapted a comprehensive safety-training program from Oregon’s OSHA’s 11 and NIOSH’s Talking Safety curricula, with an objective to reduce work-related risks among young workers. The curricula incorporates information about young worker rights and hazard recognition, with interactive exercises applicable to student’s field of interest. Three to twelve months after the training class, participants were interviewed over the phone or given a Survey Monkey questionnaire. Results revealed that participants’ knowledge of safety awareness expanded as a direct outcome the curriculum’s introduction. More importantly, the majority of participants conveyed a strong interest in workplace safety and were prepared to apply their training in the workplace.