Unit Four: Workplace Rights and Safety

Unit Four: Workplace Rights and Safety

Now that you are developing your job seeking skills, there are some key ideas you need to consider after you get the job. Two work related topics that may not be the first thing you consider are your rights and the employers work related rights and workplace safety.

Do you think young workers have the same risk of injury on the job as other workers?

Actually, young people between 15 and 24 years are particularly vulnerable to work-related injuries and have more risk to injury. They're eager to please and have much to offer, but they typically lack the experience to judge whats safe and whats not. Some are convinced nothing bad could ever happen to them. Others lack confidence, so they don't question what happens at their workplace. Young workers are at the greatest risk of getting injured during their first six months on the job. And, young men are more likely to get hurt than any other group of workers.

Young people are also at risk for other reasons. Often, they:

• Receive little or no safety training or supervision
• Are reluctant to ask questions for fear of appearing stupid
• Are assigned physically demanding or dangerous tasks
• Have to use equipment or machinery designed for adults
• Are unaware of their rights and responsibilities
• Are distracted by other things going on in their lives
• Are tired from juggling school, homework, a job, family life, and social life
• Feel rushed and pressured to get things done

Please take out a piece of paper from your notebook and complete this Pre Quiz. Record your answers and have them ready for a classroom discussion.

This unit is worth 15% of your CLE grade.