Teaching Young Workers About Job Safety and Health

1. Teaching Young Workers About Job Safety and Health National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Young Worker Safety Resource Center Labor Occupational Health Program, U.C. BerkeleyEducation Development Center, Inc., Newton, MA

2. Acknowledgements • The Young Worker Safety Resource Center is funded under grant number SH-20864SHO/P.I. Robin Baker, from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. • Portions of the Youth @ Work—Talking Safety curriculum were also funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control. • This presentation does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

3. Today’s Agenda • Why training for young workers is important • Overview of the six modules from the curriculum: • Other Resources • Question & Answer

4. Teen Work Injury Statistics • Many youth are injured on the job: • 150,000 <18-year-olds injured/year in the US • 50,000 <18-year-olds to the ER for work injuries • 38 <18-year-olds die each year • 534 18-24 year-olds die each year • Young workers are injured at a higher rate than adult workers.

5. Other 15% Service 20% Manufacturing 4% Retail 54% Agriculture 7% Other 11% Service 25% Retail 54% Manufacturing 5% Agriculture 5% Where are Teens Injured? Where Teens Work Where Teens are Injured Teen Work Injury Statistics Overhead #5

6. Why are Young Workers Injured at High Rates? Teen Workers: Real Jobs, Real Risks

7. Why are Young Workers Injured at High Rates? • Working in jobs with hazards • Inexperienced • Developmental factors • Lack of training & supervision • Some working in violation of child labor laws

8. What Are the Basic Occupational Safety and Health Skills? Young Workers should be able to: • Identify hazards in any workplace • Know how hazards can be controlled • Know what to do in an emergency • Know their rights and responsibilities • Speak up effectively when a problem arises. Overhead #7

9. The Youth @ Work: Talking Safety Curriculum • Teaches the basic skills • Uses highly participatory activities such as games, small group hands-on activities, and role plays • Includes adapted activities for teaching youth with cognitive or learning disabilities • Evaluated by NIOSH • State-specific versions at http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/talkingsafety/ Overhead #7

10. What is the impact? • 4000 instructors in 18 states have received training in the past 10 years. • Documented over 20,000 young workers trained. Tens of thousands more… • Evaluations show youth increased knowledge about workplace hazards, their rights on the job, and what to do if there is a problem at work. Overhead #7

11. Students have reported using information in the workplace: • Requesting help with lifting when they wouldn’t have before • Looking for, and reporting health and safety hazards • Making personal changes in safety habits, based on classroom discussion • Made and helped implement specific safety suggestions (e.g. redesigned stock room for safer lifting; organized office machine cords in holding tube to prevent tripping)

12. What teachers have to say: “We use the curriculum once a year as a life skills training. Many of our students have never worked before this so empowering them is very important.” “This curriculum aligns with our VocTech frameworks well. It supports our Safety curriculum.” “I gave an in-service at our County Office for other districts to use this material. Absolutely loved the lesson plans. Students were very engaged and they learned valuable information.” “Great curriculum. Kids ‘get it’ with the activities.”

13. Each Lesson includes: • Learning Objectives • Detailed teaching instructions • Tips for a shorter lesson

14. Lesson 2: Finding Hazards • Find the hazards in the picture • Hazard mapping • Hunting for hazards Overhead #8

15. Safety hazards: knives hot grease slippery floors working on ladders Chemical hazards: dusts (asbestos) cleaning products paints and thinners gasoline Biological hazards: Bloodborne pathogens (via needles, etc.) Viruses, disease Poison ivy, poison oak Other health hazards: noise radiation repetitive movements heat cold stress A job hazard is anything at work that can hurt you either physically or mentally. Overhead #8

16. Hazard Mapping Activity Overhead #13

17. Learning to recognize hazards

18. Sharing the hazard maps

19. Find the Hazards:Fast Food Illustrated Workplaces Overhead #9

20. Find the Hazards:Grocery Store Illustrated Workplaces Overhead #10

21. Find the Hazards:Office Illustrated Workplaces Overhead #11

22. Find the Hazards:Gas Station Illustrated Workplaces Overhead #12

23. Finding Hazards: Key Points • Every job has health and safety hazards • You should always be aware of these hazards • Find out about chemicals at work by checking labels, readings Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), and getting training. Overhead #14

24. Lesson 3: Finding Ways to Make the Job Safer • Mini-lecture/Q &A: Controlling hazards • $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game • Health and Safety Info Search Remove the Hazard Work Policies and Procedures Personal Protective Equipment Overhead #14

25. Brainstorm: How can slips and falls be prevented in my restaurant? • Caution signs • Rubber mats • Rules about mopping right away • Non-slip shoes • Non-skid tiles

26. Controlling Hazards Remove the Hazard (e.g., use safer chemicals) Work Policies and Procedures (e.g., assign enough people to do the job) Personal Protective Equipment (e.g., wear gloves, use a respirator) Overhead #15

27. Brainstorm: How can slips and falls be prevented in my restaurant? • Caution signs WORK POLICIES • Rubber mats REMOVE/FIX WORKPLACE • Rules about mopping right away WORK POLICIES • Non-slip shoes PPE • Non-skid tiles REMOVE/FIX WORKPLACE

28. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsSara’s Story Job: Nursing aide Injury: Back, neck, and shoulder pain $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Overhead #23

30. What solutions can prevent this injury? Remove the Hazard • Use a mechanical lifting device. Work Policies • Make sure workers who have already been injured are not required to lift. • Create a policy that workers may lift patients only in teams. • Train workers about safe lifting methods. Personal Protective Equipment • None

31. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsJamie’s Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Hospital dishwasher Injury: Dishwashing chemical splashed in eye Overhead #16

32. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsBilly’s Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Fast food worker Injury: Burned hand on grill Overhead #17

33. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsStephen’s Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Grocery store clerk Injury: Hurt back while loading boxes Overhead #18

34. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsTerry’s Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Grocery store deli clerk Injury: Cut finger on meat slicer Overhead #19

35. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsChris’ Story Job: City public works employee Injury: Fainted due to heat $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Overhead #20

36. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsJames’ Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Pizza shop employee Injury: Repetitive motion injury Overhead #21

37. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsMaria’s Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Farmworker Injury: Pesticide poisoning Overhead #22

38. Eliminating or Reducing HazardsBrent’s Story $25,000 Safety Pyramid Game Job: Pallet making Injury: Amputated arm Overhead #24

39. Making the Job Safer: Key Points • OSHA requires employers to provide a safe workplace. • It’s best to get rid of a hazard completely, if possible. • If your employer can’t get rid of the hazard, there are usually many ways to protect you from it. Overhead #25

40. Lesson 4: Emergencies at Work What is an emergency at work? An unplanned event that harms or threatens employees, customers, or the public; that shuts down business operations; or that causes physical or environmental damage.

41. Emergencies at Work • Disaster Blaster Game • Emergencies in the News activity Disaster Blaster Student Handout #8

42. Playing Disaster Blaster

43. Emergencies at Work: Key Points • Every workplace should have an emergency action plan • The plan should cover: • What to do in different emergencies • Where shelters and meeting places are • Evacuation routes • Emergency equipment and alert systems • Who’s in charge • Procedures to follow when someone is injured • The workplace should have practice drills • Workers should be trained on everything in the plan. Overhead #26

44. Lesson 5: Know Your Rights Jeopardy Game Overhead #27

45. Playing Jeopardy

46. Know Your RightsLabor Law BINGO Game Board #1 Labor Law Bingo Game Student Handout #13

47. Know Your Rights: Key Points • Federal and state labor laws: • Set minimum age for some tasks • Protect teens from working too long, too late or too early • OSHA says every employer must provide: • A safe workplace • Safety training on certain hazards • Safety equipment • By law, your employer is not allowed to fire or punish you for reporting a safety problem. Overhead #28

48. Lesson 6: Taking Action • Steps in problem-solving • Role-Play: Elena’s story • Mini-skits

49. Role Play: How to Speak Up

50. Handling Workplace Safety Problems Steps in Problem Solving • Define the problem • Get advice/talk to others • Choose your goals • Know your rights • Decide the best way to talk to the supervisor • If necessary, contact an outside agency for help. Overhead #29