The labour force in construction is made up of two distinct groups: young inexperienced workers and older workers with good or bad experiences.
In this first of two parts, we will focus on inexperienced young workers. According to studies, they are more likely to be injured in the first six months after being hired than in their entire careers. On average, 8 young people die on the job each year. In 2012, 7 died and of these, 3 were less than 24 years old. The main causes are hitting or being hit by a vehicle, exposure to chemical or harmful substances (confined space). Contractors' managers must put systems in place to protect these workers and they must inform them, provide them with training, support them and above all, guide them through the complex world of construction.
Young workers are more at risk because they do not have the experience necessary to identify hazards, nor the measures to be put in place to protect themselves. They want to put the cart before the horse to show their supervisor that they are good. They do not want to displease, are embarrassed to voice their opinion or ask questions to another more experienced worker if they’re in doubt. After identifying a danger, they will wait to see if anyone else talks about it. They are not familiar with the site, do not understand the why of certain rules, etc. It is not one of these factors, but a combination of external and internal factors that can lead to the irreparable situation.
Supervisors must make sure that young workers are provided with all the tools essential to their safety.
Whether it is training, an explanatory walk through the site, a more detailed introduction, showing them how to wear the PPE made available to them and reading the work methods specific to the site and their profession. It's not just about giving them these tools, it's also about making sure they are used in the field. You can have the best tools on the market, if they are not used or if they are misused, we know the rest. Mentoring with an experienced worker is also a great thing. I would even go so far as to say that it is the perfect way to give our young people a good experience. It should be remembered that the average age is 53+ in the construction industry. So, our young people are our future supervisors. Let us make sure we train them well with a safety mindset, so that the next wave of young workers is even safer.
