Work design

How work tasks, activities, relationships and responsibilities are designed and managed can have a significant impact on the safety of young workers.

Managers and supervisors should consider ways to make the workplace inclusive of young workers, based on their unique risk profile. This means designing work tasks in a way that focuses on developing the skills and experience of young workers, not just protecting them from harm. This will support young workers to perform their work safety and productively.

3 key aspects that contribute to good work design for young workers are:

induction and training - use the 'Tell me, show me and watch me' approach
supervision and feedback - ensure an appropriate level of supervision relative to the task
support and mentoring - assist young workers to make the transition to working life.

Induction and training

When a young worker starts a new job or role, their supervisor needs to determine their level of experience in order to assess their competency to perform work safely.

This assessment can begin with talking to the young worker to develop an understanding of their formal education, training and prior work experience. However, it is not sufficient to rely on the young worker's assurance that they are experienced and competent. All young workers should complete an induction process to demonstrate their competence, and to receive the information and instructions they need to work safely.

Items to cover in a general workplace induction:

General overview of work health and safety laws, including the duties of different people.
Workplace policies, including:

workplace health and safety
code of conduct
specific hazards (for example bullying, violence, drugs and alcohol).

Introduction to key people such as supervisors, elected health and safety representatives, emergency warden and the first aid officer.
Consultation arrangements.
How to report incidents, injuries and near misses.
Workers' compensation and return to work procedures.
Emergency procedures.
Identify important safety signage and communications (for example noticeboards and alerts).

Items to cover in a task specific induction:

Safe work procedures (instructions on how to perform the task safely).
The role of others when performing tasks (for example co-workers and spotters).
Instructions on how to use and maintain equipment.
Use, storage and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
Risk management registers outlining identified hazards and risk control measures.
Environment conditions and variability (for example how to consider the impact of weather conditions).

Tell me, show me, watch me

Supervisors and managers of young workers are encouraged to use the 'Tell me, show me, watch me' approach when undertaking task-specific inductions with young workers. This approach has 3 steps:

Step 1 - Tell me: Provide a clear and detailed explanation of the task to the young worker, paying particular attention to critical elements and making the young worker aware of documented procedures.
Step2 - Show me: Demonstrated the task while the young worker watches, explaining key points and asking the young workers questions to check for understanding at particular intervals.
Step 3 - Watch me: Review the young worker performing the task and provide clear and constructive feedback to ensure they are performing the task correctly and safely.

Employers should carefully consider if the tasks given to young workers are suitable, based on their unique risk profile. Employers are responsible for determining what level of training is appropriate for the tasks that young workers will be expected to perform. Some tasks or equipment may require formal training. For training that occurs outside of the workplace, supervisors should support the young worker by taking an interest in their training, assisting with training logs, and finding ways for them to apply their new skills.

The intended outcome of training is to enhance the ability of workers to perform work safely and productively, while benefiting the organisation by developing an innovative and productive workforce.

Supervision and feedback

Because young workers may have difficulty judging when something is dangerous and have a desire to impress supervisors and workmates, they are less likely to ask questions or raise concerns about their safety at work. This means it isn't effective to simply rely on young workers to ask for assistance or supervision. Supervisors of young workers should always provide appropriate supervision.

The level of supervision required is based on the level of risk and the knowledge and experience of the young worker. For example, any task that the young worker has no experience with requires close and regular supervision until the young worker becomes competent.

Supervisors and more experienced workers should be aware that their own behaviours are being closely watched and modelled by the young workers around them, and ensure their actions support their communication to young workers.

Supervisors should allow adequate time to provide feedback to young workers. Feedback should be constructive and young workers should be encouraged to ask questions. Reward and recognition of a job well done is just as important as correcting errors.

Further information can be found on the apprentice and trainee supervision guidance page.

Supporting and mentoring

Getting a job and starting work is an exciting time for a young person. Research shows that employment is good for their health, however young people may need extra support to successfully transition to working life. Forming quality relationships with their supervisor and co-workers is vital for them to become socially engaged in their work environment.

When young workers are engaged in their work environment, they are most likely to:

pay attention to instructions and advice provided by their supervisor
share their ideas to improve the way work is carried out
ask questions, raise concerns and report incidents
remain employed with the organisation.

Appropriate workplace behaviour

Young workers should expect that they will be recipients of appropriate workplace behaviour from their co-workers. This means preventing all forms of workplace bullying, including acts of initiation.

Similarly, the standard of workplace behaviour that young workers are expected to display should be clearly outlined and communicated to them as soon as they begin to work.