To keep people safe at work, it is important that managers identify OHS vulnerable workers.
It is the summer, a time when employers often worry about the safety of vulnerable workers who join their seasonal workforce. Who are the vulnerable workers at increased risk of occupational heath and safety (OHS) incidents at your workplace?
Employers use various methods to try to identify which employees are at the greatest risk of becoming injured at work. Recent research suggests that OHS vulnerability can be best predicted by considering factors related to both the employee and the workplace.
Issues to keep in mind when determining which workers are OHS vulnerable include:
- Level of hazard faced by the worker
- Workplace protections and policies
- Worker awareness of worksite hazards and safety rights and responsibilities
- Worker empowerment in injury prevention.
If a worker is negatively affected by all of the four issues, then his or her OHS vulnerability significantly increases. It is important that managers understand that they cannot make decisions about OHS risk based on simple generalizations about work settings or inexperienced employees.
Young workers, such as summer students, are one type of employee that is often considered to be at increased risk of getting hurt on the job. Individuals who are part of certain demographics such as older workers, younger workers, new immigrants or temporary workers are often stereotyped as being more likely to get hurt while working. But is every individual in these groups at higher risk of injury? There are many sensible, well-trained, safety conscious students and temporary workers.
Work setting also affects a worker’s OHS vulnerability. Workplaces such as construction sites, small businesses and hospitals are considered to be more dangerous. But many of these types of workplaces have exceptional workplace safety records. These safety conscious organizations in higher risk sectors may object to being classified as unsafe workplaces.
Employers should use accurate methods to identify and protect workers at risk of injury. Managers and supervisors need to consider the relationship between employee knowledge and empowerment and the work setting hazards and protections when identifying OHS vulnerable workers.
Read more about OHS Vulnerable Workers.
