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Summer Jobs and Protecting Young Workers from Occupational Health and Safety Hazards

The Board for Global EHS Credentialing® (BGC®) reminds employers and employees of the need to protect workers from occupational hazards they may encounter in the workplace.


Lansing, MI – WEBWIRE –

Campaigns like My Safe Summer Job, meant to raise hazard awareness and help to educate young workers, are an important step in preventing injuries, illnesses, and tragic deaths from taking place on the job.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently announced the agency, along with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and other organizations, are taking part in the social media campaign, My Safe Summer Job. The aim of the campaign is to bring awareness to youth, educators, parents, supervisors, and employers about the importance of workplace safety.
 
While protecting young workers needs to be a year-round effort, during the summer months a large number of high school and college-aged students take on summer jobs that could make them vulnerable to health and safety hazards associated with their employment. In fact, NIOSH states that young workers have high rates of job-related injuries. The agency shares the following statistics regarding this group of workers:

  • In 2016, there were about 19.3 million workers under the age of 24. These workers represented 13% of the total workforce.
  • In 2015, 403 workers under the age of 24 died from work-related injuries.
  • In 2015, there were 24 deaths of workers under 18 years of age.
  • In 2015, the incidence rate for non-fatal injuries for workers, ages 16 - 19, was 110.5 per 10,000 full-time employees (FTE) and 98.3 per 10,000 FTE for workers, ages 20 - 24.
  • In 2014, the rate of work-related injuries treated in emergency departments for workers, ages 15 - 19, was 2.18 times greater than the rate for workers 25 years of age and older. In the same year, the rate of work-related injuries treated in emergency departments for workers, ages 20 - 24, was 1.76 times greater than the rate for workers 25 years of age and older.


  
“Campaigns like My Safe Summer Job, meant to raise hazard awareness and help to educate young workers, are an important step in preventing injuries, illnesses, and tragic deaths from taking place on the job,” said Dirk Yamamoto, PhD, CIH® and Chair of Board for Global EHS Credentialing. “While not all occupational accidents and unforeseen events can be avoided, many can. Educating employers and workers about occupational exposure risks and the role that effective health and safety programs can make is a win-win scenario for everyone.”
 
Helping to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths of workers of all ages are Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs). These professionals are trained and experienced in identifying workplace hazards to protect the health and safety of workers and their communities. These preeminent industrial hygienists are trained to anticipate, recognize, evaluate, and control a wide range of chemical, physical, biological, and ergonomic stressors. Health risk analysis, hazard communication, work environments, and industrial processes are all key components of the CIH® program. This comprehensive knowledge base can help employers protect workers and avoid the tremendous direct and indirect costs associated with disabling occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities.
 
To learn more about the Certified Industrial Hygienist® credential, visit www.ABIH.org or to locate a CIH® to perform industrial hygiene services, please email a request to abih@ABIH.org .  For information about the Qualified Environmental Professional® credential or Environmental Professional In-Training® (EPI®) designation, visit www.IPEP.org or email ipep@IPEP.org .  Please call (517) 321-2638 for questions about BGC® or its credentials and designations.
 
About the Board for Global EHS Credentialing ®
Since 1960, the American Board of Industrial Hygiene® (ABIH®), a not-for-profit corporation, has been the world’s largest organization for certifying professionals in the practice of industrial hygiene. In 2019, ABIH® created a new, high-level organizational umbrella called the Board for Global EHS Credentialing® (BGC®) to more accurately reflect its enhanced credential offerings, which include the Certified Industrial Hygienist® (CIH®), Qualified Environmental Professional® (QEP®), Environmental Professional In-Training® (EPI®), and a Product Stewardship credential, which is currently in development. Currently, more than 7,600 people around the world hold the CIH® credential, QEP® credential, or EPI® designation. 

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