27% of workers aged between 18 and 34 have put themselves at risk by not following their companies’ safety procedures. A survey of 2,000 employees carried out by data capture app provider, WorkMobile, found that a third (33 percent) of young personnel admitted they would have no idea what to do if a hazardous situation occurred. This is in spite of the fact that young workers are more likely than their older colleagues to read the health and safety guidance they were provided with. It found that over half (56 percent) of people aged between 18 and 34 have read their operations manual, compared to only 30 percent of 45 to 64 year olds.
1 in 10 (11 percent) said that while they would not know how to handle an incident at work correctly, they would know where to find the right information to do so. Compared to young workers, two thirds (67 percent) of 45 to 64 year olds would know what to do if a potentially dangerous situation at work occurred.
Colin Yates, chief support officer at WorkMobile, said: “Ultimately, it’s the responsibility of employers to ensure they are supplying staff with the necessary information and guidance to allow them to work in an appropriate manner”. Yates believes that introducing frequent meetings or updates to discuss health and safety in the workplace would ensure that young people are following the correct procedures so that “it remains front of mind for employees” and that “they are aware of what to do if a hazardous situation was to occur”.
“It’s important that both employers and employees take health and safety seriously to ensure that everyone is able to work in a safe environment”.
Source
https://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/gen-y/young-workers-ignoring-health-safety/