A recent report from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicates that those workers 24 and below are much more likely to suffer workplace injuries as other workers. The report was an analysis of on the job injuries between 1998 and 2007. Overall, nearly 8 million young workers were injured. The highest rate of accidents were among workers who were 18 or 19. Workers 24 and younger were twice as likely to suffer workplace injuries as other workers. The July 8, 2010 report also revealed that young hispanic workers were the most likely to suffer a workplace or construction accident.
According to the report, young people were “less likely to recognize hazards, less likely to speak up regarding safety, and less aware of their legal rights as workers.”
Adequate training and communication seem to be the key to insuring safety on the job site.