News
"But No-one told me!"
NPiS 'KEEPING YOUNG WORKERS SAFE' SEMINAR
Around 80 people from local industry, schools, training organisations and youth services attended a New Plymouth injury Safe Trust seminar, held in New Plymouth on 31st March, to raise awareness of young people's safety in the workplace.
New Plymouth injury Safe (NPiS) is an injury prevention coalition that exists to reduce injury and promote safety in the New Plymouth District, accredited as a WHO Safe Community in 2005. The seminar was primarily held to launch a Department of Labour Young Workers Knowledge Survey which was completed by over 3000 secondary students in Taranaki.
Some of the key findings from the Department of Labour Young Workers' Knowledge Survey are that:
- 42% of students worked part-time
- 73% work in retail, agriculture and food/accommodation services
- Less than half knew their rights and responsibilities as an employee
- 79% had not studied health and safety at school at all
- 19% had been asked to do something they considered unsafe... and 88% went on to do it anyway
- 20% had suffered a workplace illness or injury, of which 93% blamed on either themselves or a 'freak accident'
- 43% did not report their injury as they felt it was 'no big deal', nothing would change or for fear they would get into trouble
The event aimed to raise awareness of health and safety issues affecting young workers as well as celebrating health and safety programmes taking place in local schools or being used by employers. Presentations focused on the SCFNZ Passport to Safety web-based training programme, being piloted in Taranaki, and the successful Secondary Schools Agricultural Safety Team Challenge. Other presentations highlighted ACC's Startsafe Staysafe programme and the District Council Youth Friendly Toolkit.
Three key highlights of the day were presentations by Ross Gilmour, Organisational Psychologist of Gilmour Consulting Ltd. , Roana Carran of Coverstaff Recruitment Ltd. and a Youth Debate challenge between New Plymouth Boys High and Girls High Schools.
Ross Gilmour provided a psychological perspective on safety training, showing how developing safe subconscious habits can be achieved through 'problem versus solution' thinking - training the sub- conscious to direct safe behaviour under stress.
Roana, who won the Safeguard Health & Safety Practitioner of the Year award in 2005, spoke about Coverstaff's successful CoverSafe health and safety training initiative. The success of their programme was recognised when Coverstaff Recruitment won the ACC award for 'Best Leadership by an Industry Body' as well as the overall award for its improving workplace health and safety through its CoverSafe health and safety training initiative.
However, the stars of the day were the 6 secondary school students who took part in a Youth Debate, asking "Who is most safety conscious - teenage boys or teenage girls?". These talented young people most certainly left everyone wondering how we should define what is safe and unsafe as far as young people are concerned.
Speakers, Ross Gilmour and DrCarolyn Coggan
Roana Carran, Coverstaff Recruitment Ltd.
Students from New Plymouth Girls High School and New Plymouth Boys High School Youth Debating Team.
Following the seminar a number of initiatives are planned to progress the issues raised at the seminar. These include plans to host a "Business After 5" event through the Chamber of Commerce to raise the profile of young workers safety and the range of resources available to employers locally and nationally. Another initiative being planned is an interactive workplace safety challenge aimed at Gateway students to take place at the Taranaki HSE Centre during Safety Week. Our Secondary Schools Agricultural Safety Team Challenge is also planned to take place on 1st August.
More information on these initiatives will be available over coming months on the New Plymouth injury Safe website.
A full copy of the Young Workers Knowledge Survey can be obtained by contacting Jo-Ann Pugh, Dept. of Labour.
