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Teach Safe says YouthSafe04 October 2000 By Mary Yaager Unions and the government have produced a new kit that aims to empowering young students who are in or joining the workforce to understand their rights about workplace safety. The NSW Attorney General and Minister for Industrial Relations, the Hon Jeff Shaw, yesterday launched a workplace safety resource kit for high schools which was produced by the Labor Council's YouthSafe Committee. The workplace injury statistics are alarming. According to the National OHS Commission two people die at work everyday in Australia. The Commission also found that a large proportion of these workers are young or inexperienced. In 1997/98 a total of 181 people died at work and 22 of those were less than 25 years old. A total of 56,804 workers suffered illness and injury and approximately 10,000 of those were under 25. Young people enter the workforce as young as 14 years of age and work in the service industries such as fast food and retail. However many are much younger and may work in a family business or on a farm. The most dangerous industries are rural, construction, manufacturing retail hospitality and business services. The YouthSafe Committee was established by young individuals in unions who were concerned and wanted to do something about the appalling statistics. The Committee was officially launched by the Premier and one of its major aims was to develop an information package to help young workers be aware of dangers in the workplace. The committee produced the kit after conducting surveys and focus groups with teachers and students and this confirmed that young workers are extremely vulnerable because of their lack of awareness, training and they are easily intimidated and won't speak up. Lois Anderson, Teachers Federation Delegate, who teaches hospitality and tourism at Mclean High School said that the simplicity of the kit is its strength and as a classroom teacher this issue is very difficult to make it real for students. Kids believe that they are immortal and the reality of the photograph of the worker who has lost his hand will show that it can happen to anyone at any time and will drive home the message about needing to consider safety in every thing you do at work. Kristie Loveridge, student from Matraville High, who attended the launch said: "The kit is great. It provides teachers with good tools to inform students about workplace safety issues, and at the same time gives students information that is easily understood and also the contact points if they have an issue about safety. Marg Holdman, teacher at Matraville High, who also attended the launch said: "I was involved in the pilot and was pleased with the end result. The kit provides a forum for teachers and students who are working part-time to discuss workplace safety and what to do about issues." She also said that the kit is long overdue and will be used extensively by teachers. Everyone who attended the launch , and in particular the High Schools, were very impressed with the resource kit and congratulated the Labor Council's YouthSafe Committee and WorkCover on a great achievement. The Teachers Federation, who were also represented at the launch and who participated in the development of the kit, have asked Labor Council to provide one to all of their delegates in high schools.
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