INTRODUCTION

Improving OSH for

Young Workers:
A Self-Training Package

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package

 INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Improving OSH
for Young Workers:
A Self-Training Package
Introduction

Copyright © International Labour Organization 2019

First published 2019

This is an open access work distributed under the Creative Commons

Attribution 4.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/
by/4.0/). Users can reuse, share, adapt and build upon the original work, as
detailed in the License. The ILO must be clearly credited as the owner of the
original work. The use of the emblem of the ILO is not permitted in connection
with users’ work.

The work must be cited as follows: International Labour Office, Improving OSH
for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package, Geneva: International Labour
Office, 2019.

In case of a translation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added

along with the attribution: This translation was not created by the International
Labour Office (ILO) and should not be considered an official ILO translation.
The ILO is not responsible for the content or accuracy of this translation.

In case of an adaptation of this work, the following disclaimer must be added

along with the attribution: This is an adaptation of an original work by the
International Labour Office (ILO). Responsibility for the views and opinions
expressed in the adaptation rests solely with the author or authors of the
adaptation and are not endorsed by the ILO.

All queries on rights and licensing should be addressed to ILO Publishing

(Rights and Licensing), CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email to rights@
ilo.org.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package

ISBN: 978-92-2-133878-9 (print)
ISBN: 978-92-2-133879-6 (web pdf)

4
The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with
United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply
the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International
Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of
its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers.

The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other
contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute
an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in
them.

Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not
imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure
to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of
disapproval.

Information on ILO publications and digital products can be found at: www.ilo.
org/publns.

Funding is provided by the United States Department of Labor under

cooperative agreement number IL-26690-14-75-K-11. One hundred per cent
of the total costs of the project is financed with federal funds, for a total of
11,443,156 dollars. This material does not necessarily reflect the views or
policies of the United States Department of Labor, nor does mention of trade
names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the
United States Government.

This publication has been

printed on recycled-content
paper. Printed in Serbia.

Design: Future by Design

www.futurebydesign.studio

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 5

Introduction

Table of Contents
Abbreviations................................................................8
Foreword.......................................................................9
Acknowledgments........................................................10

Preface 11
What is in the Package ..................................................12
Understanding the Icons Used in the Manual................14
How to Use the Self-Training Package...........................16
Gender and Young Workers...........................................18

Introduction 19
The Challenge of OSH for Young Workers ...................19
International Labour Standards......................................27
Child Labour Standards..................................................28
OSH Standards...............................................................30

Summary........................................................................38
Quiz................................................................................40
Answers.........................................................................43
Learning Journal...........................................................44
Glossary.........................................................................46
References.....................................................................56

6
Tables
Table of Activities

Activity: OSH Standards Relevant to My Profession ......36

Table of Info Boxes

Info Box: Additional ILO Information on Gender

Mainstreaming................................................................18

Table of Question Boxes

Who are young workers?................................................20

Is youth participation important?...................................24
What is child labour?......................................................29
What is hazardous work?................................................29
Which International Labour Standards Has My
Country Ratified?............................................................32

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 7

Introduction

Abbreviations
ILO International Labour Organization
ILS International Labour Standards
KAB Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviour
NGO Non-Governmental Organization
OSH Occupational Safety and Health
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
SME Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises
SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats
TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training

Credits
Page 11 © ILO
Page 19 Maxime Fossat © ILO

8
Foreword
According to the latest global estimates released by the International Labour
Organization (ILO), the world’s workforce sustains around 374 million non-fatal
occupational injuries every year, a figure that would be much higher if reliable
reporting existed. Young workers are particularly vulnerable to occupational
harm. Several factors contribute to their increased OSH risks, including
individual characteristics such as stage of physical, psychosocial and emotional
development, working conditions and work organization and environment.
Owing to the high number of young people entering the labour market every
year and their particular vulnerabilities, they must become a priority target for
building a culture of prevention on occupational safety and health (OSH).

In 2015, the ILO launched the SafeYouth@Work Project, funded by the

U.S. Department of Labor. It is the first ILO project of its kind focussing on
promoting OSH for young workers, with a particular focus on those aged above
the minimum age of work to 24.

Building on four years of experience, the SafeYouth@Work Project has

developed this self-training package to strengthen the capacity of ILO
constituents - governments, employers and workers, including young workers -
to assess and implement OSH strategies and actions focused on young workers
at national and enterprise levels.

As a self-training package, the reader is encouraged to apply what they are

learning through a range of activities, quizzes, a learning journal and action
guides. All of these learning tools are designed to encourage the reader to
develop and act on practical ways to improve OSH for young workers, and
thereby ensuring safer and healthier work for all.

Vera Lúcia Paquete-Perdigão

Director
Governance and Tripartism Department
International Labour Organization

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 9

Introduction

Acknowledgments
This self-training package was principally prepared by Paul McAdams
(Learning Methodologies Consultant) and Dafne Papandrea (OSH
Consultant), under the overall coordination and guidance of Valentine
Offenloch (Technical Specialist, SafeYouth@Work Project).

It greatly benefited from technical inputs by ILO colleagues of the

Labour Administration, Labour Inspection and Occupational Safety
and Health (LABADMIN/ OSH) Branch staff and the SafeYouth@Work
Project team, in particular Franklin Muchiri , Andrew Christian, Nicholas
Levintow and Louis-Pierre Michaud. Contents and selected activities
were pilot-tested during a one-week training course ‘National strategies
to ensure OSH for young workers’ at ITC-ILO in Turin, Italy in March
2019 under the guidance of Felix Martin Daza.

Important contributions were made by all those involved in the

review process (listed alphabetically): Magdalena Bober (Relations
Specialist, ACT/EMP, ILO); Beatriz Brondial (OSH Youth Champion,
Youth Coordinator for Luzon Area, Philippine Independent Public
Sector Employees Association); Nur Chariroh (OSH Youth Champion,
Student, Yogyakarta State University, Indonesia); Adrienne Cruz
(Gender Specialist, GED, ILO); Luisa De Simone (Junior Professional
Officer, YEP, ILO); Duyen Nguyen Ngoc (National Project Coordinator,
ILO CO-Hanoi); Benjamin Smith (Senior Technical Officer, Child
Labour, FUNDAMENTALS, ILO); as well as Michael Watt (Technical
Officer, ACTRAV, ILO). The self-training package also benefitted from
comments by staff of the U.S. Department of Labor and the National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

10
 Preface

Preface
Young worker
As active contributors of labour markets worldwide,
young workers (between the ages of 15 and 24) typically
experience higher rates of occupational injuries than adult
workers. Raising awareness of and ensuring compliance
Occupational Safety
with occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for
and health (OSH)
young workers can help reduce such injuries and ensure a
healthier, safer work environment for everyone.

The overall objective of this self-training package is to

Occupational injury
strengthen the capacity of governments, employers,
and workers (including young workers) and their
organizations to improve OSH management for young
workers through the assessment and implementation
Worker
of strategies and actions through national OSH
systems. Since each national context and group of
stakeholders is unique, the information, learning tools,
and examples included in this self-training package do
Employer
not make up a “one-size-fits-all” model. As such, the
reader needs to determine which sections are most
relevant to their context. The section below, “How to Use
This Self-Training Package,” guides the reader through
Informal employment
this process.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 11

 Introduction

What is in the Package

Employers’ Even though this self-training package is focused on
organization young workers, the content is relevant to all workers. The
package is divided into five booklets: an introduction,
three learning modules and appendices:
• The Introduction describes the importance of OSH
Workers’ organization issues as they pertain to young workers, as well as an
overview of international labour standards on OSH for
young workers.
• Module 1: National OSH Framework Addressing
Young Workers’ Vulnerabilities presents the different
elements of the national OSH framework with a focus
International labour
standards on young workers: national policy, system, profile, and
programme.
• Module 2: Strategy and Actions for the Protection
of Young Workers presents analytical tools to assess
the national OSH context for young workers in order
to develop a strategy to ensure and improve OSH for
young workers at the workplace level.
• Module 3: OSH Management at the Workplace:
Addressing Young Workers’ Needs presents a basic
framework for identifying hazards and managing
Hazard
workplace risks facing young workers.
• The Appendices contain additional information related
to OSH for young workers, such as international labour
standards and sector-specific risks and hazards to young
Risk workers.
In the Introduction and in each Module, the reader will
find Activities, Info boxes and Question boxes to help

12
 Preface

them focus on practical steps to ensure greater protection

and promotion of OSH for young workers. There is also
a Summary at the end of the Introduction and each
Module, along with a Quiz to measure the reader’s
learning, a Learning Journal to write down the key
learnings, a Glossary with OSH-related terminology and
References.

At the end of each Module, there is an Action Guide to

help the reader put into practice what they learned. Each
Action Guide contains Checklists and Worksheets that When organizing group
are numbered for easy reference. In general, the activities work, consider the
in the Action Guides are oriented towards group work following:
• Bipartite or tripartite
rather than individual learning. Because each module
representation
is self-contained, the purpose of each Action Guide is • Youth participation
different: • Gender balance
• The Action Guide for Module 1 focuses on all
aspects of an OSH framework at the national level:
OSH policy, system, profile, and programme. This
Action Guide is especially useful for young workers’
organizations, employers’ organizations, and trade union Young workers’
representatives. It is also useful for government officials organization
and tripartite members who want to make sure young
workers are fully integrated into their national OSH
framework. Most of the activities in this Action Guide are
best completed as part of a group.
• The Action Guide for Module 2 provides tools for
assessing OSH for young workers at a national or
enterprise level. The Action Guide provides a framework
for identifying key actions to improve different aspects

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 13

 Introduction

of OSH for young workers, such as improving data

collection and research, OSH regulations, and raising
awareness. The activities in this Action Guide are
suitable for young workers’ organizations, employers’
organizations, and trade union representatives. The
activities are best completed as part of a group.
• The Action Guide for Module 3 is oriented towards
enterprise-level change. The activities are useful for
managers, workers’ organizations, and young workers’
organizations. Because the activities focus on specific
hazards and risks encountered at the workplace, they
can be completed either as part of a group or by
individuals.

Understanding the Icons Used in

the Manual
The main types of learning tools are the following (Table 1),
which are indicated by icons throughout the manual:

Table 1 Icons used in this manual

Information boxes provide additional information or good practices
on a topic presented in the manual.

Learning questions help the reader reflect on specific content in the

manual.

14
 Preface

Activities help the reader develop knowledge, strengthen skills,

and shape attitudes in relation to OSH for young workers. Activities
are in the Introduction and all three Modules. Most activities can
be completed by the individual reader, while others are best
completed as part of a group.

Indicates the suggested amount of time to complete an activity.

The group icon indicates that the activity is best completed as

part of a group. For example, a young workers’ organization or
representatives of a trade union.

The individual icon indicates that the activity can be completed by

an individual reader.

Indicates a term defined in the glossary.

Indicates a topic that addresses technical issues in depth.

Summaries at the end of each module to highlight the module’s

main learning points.

Checklists help the reader take stock of key information to assist

them in strengthening OSH for young workers. Checklists are in the
Action Guides at the end of each Module.

Worksheets help the reader identify practical ways to apply what

they are learning from the manual. Worksheets are in the Action
Guides at the end of each Module.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 15

 Introduction

How to Use the Self-Training

Package
This package is intended for all tripartite constituents,
including young workers. Because of this diversity, most
Tripartite constituents
of the learning tools presented in this package are
are representatives of: relevant to all groups. Whenever necessary, activities
• Governments are identified for particular constituents; even in such
• Employers
instances, the reader is encouraged to consider action
• Workers
steps through the perspectives of the other constituents.
Actions and strategies to improve OSH for young workers
cannot happen in isolation; collaboration and cooperation
between all constituents is a prerequisite for effective and
sustainable progress. The package highlights the links
between the roles and responsibilities of governments,
employers’ organizations and workers’ organizations, as
well as the need to directly involve young workers.

Because this is a self-training package, readers must

assess their own learning needs and read the sections
that are most relevant to them. Generally speaking,
readers should dedicate a few hours a week to read and
use the package alone and to periodically schedule time
(say, during a meeting) to discuss the content or complete
the Action Guides as a group. In order to facilitate this
process, Table 2 helps readers identify which sections are
most relevant to suit their learning needs.

16
 Preface

Table 2 Choose Your Learning Path: Which Sections to Read

If you are CURIOUS about..

Becoming an
Module 1
OSH youth Introduction Module 2 Module 3
Summary
advocate
Learning
Module 1 Module 2
about ILS Introduction
Summary Summary
on OSH
Learning
about
Introduction Module 1
national OSH
framework
Learning
Module 1 Module 3
about OSH Introduction Module 2
Summary Summary
strategies
Learning
about OSH Introduction Module 3
hazards
Becoming an
OSH Introduction Module 1 Module 2 Module 3
Champion

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 17

 Introduction

Gender and Young Workers

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment
is critical to ILO’s decent work agenda for all women and
men and has been at the heart of the ILO’s mandate since
its Constitution was adopted. According to the ILO’s
revised Policy on Gender Equality and Mainstreaming,
gender equality is to be reflected in all ILO technical
work, operational activities and support services.

A gender-responsive approach is adopted throughout

the self-training package to enable the reader to reflect
on the different needs, perspectives, and contexts in
Gender-responsive
approach which women and men work. In particular, the reader
will examine the potential impact on both women and
men of strategies and actions to ensure and improve
OSH for young workers. Appendix 2 contains additional
information on a gender-responsive approach.

Info Box: Additional ILO Information on

Gender Mainstreaming
• Gender, Equality and Diversity Branch of the ILO
(www.ilo.org/ged)
• Gender and Occupational Safety and Health (www.ilo.
org/safework/areasofwork/gender-and-occupational-
safety-and-health/)
• 10 Keys for Gender Sensitive OSH Practice –
Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming in Occupational
Safety and Health (www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/
public/@ed_protect/@protrav/@safework/documents/
publication/wcms_324653.pdf)

18
 Introduction

Introduction
Overview
The Introduction presents specific vulnerabilities affecting
young workers, as well as the different international
labour standards to help promote OSH for young
workers.

The Challenge of OSH for Young

Workers
According to the latest ILO estimates, 2.78 million
workers die annually due to occupational accidents and
diseases. Non-fatal workplace accidents are estimated to
affect 374 million workers each year, meaning that over Occupational accident
one million workers are injured at work every day1. Many
of these accidents have potentially serious long-term
consequences on workers’ health and well-being as well
as on their earning capacity.

1
See Hämäläinen, P., Takala, J., & Boon Kiat, T. (2017). Global
Estimates of Occupational Accidents and Work-related Illnesses
2017. XXI World Congress on Safety and Health at Work.
Singapore: Workplace Safety and Health Institute.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 19

 Introduction

Who are young workers?

The United Nations, for statistical purposes, defines
“youth” as anyone between the ages of 15 and 24. On
this definition, young workers account for almost 15% of
the global labour force (in 2018 they numbered around
442 million).
Young workers fall into two major groups:
• adolescent workers above the minimum age of
employment but under the age of 18 (these workers are
considered “children” and have special legal protection
in employment and working conditions);
• young workers between age 18 and 24 (these workers
are considered adults and are generally covered only by
the general labour laws and regulations).

Young workers can be students who work in their spare

time; apprentices; interns; young people who have
finished or left compulsory education. Some young
workers are in family businesses; others are self-employed
or are themselves employers.

Young workers are a vulnerable group, at higher risk

of occupational injury and exposure to substances
and working conditions that can cause occupational
Exposure
disease and health problems later in life. Young workers
experience higher rates of work injury than adult workers.
In the United States, the risk that young workers aged
15-24 will suffer occupational injury is approximately
Occupational disease
twice as high as it is for workers aged 25 or older.2 In
Europe, the rate of non-fatal work accidents is more than

20
 Introduction

40 per cent higher among young workers aged 18–24 as

compared to older workers.3 Several factors contribute
to increased OSH risks for young workers, including their
individual characteristics, working conditions and work
environment (see Table 3). Globally, 76.7 per cent of
young workers are in informal jobs, compared with 57.9 For more information
on risks and hazards,
per cent of adult workers. Workers in these situations
see Module 3.
are less visible and are deprived of bargaining power
and effective representation, all of which make them
more likely to find themselves in hazardous working
conditions.4 The brain (particularly the cerebral cortex,
which governs judgement and critical thought) and other
parts of the neurological system are not fully mature until
the twenties. For this reason, young workers may be more
likely to take potentially dangerous decisions when faced
with fast-paced or stressful situations in the workplace.

2
See Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC (2010).
“Occupational Injuries and Deaths Among Younger Workers:
United States, 1998--2007” in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly
Report (MMWR), vol. 59, no. 15, pp. 449-455, April 2010.
3
See European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, EU-
OSHA (2007). OSH in figures: Young workers - Facts and figures.
European risk observatory report. Luxembourg: Office for
Official Publications of the European Communities.
4
See ILO (2017). Global Employment Trends for Youth 2017:
Paths to a better working future.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 21

 Introduction

Table 3 Factors that increase young workers’ OSH risks

Factor Increased OSH risks for young workers

Stage of Young workers, especially adolescents, are at higher risk

physical of suffering occupational injury and disease because their
development bodies are still developing. Their reproductive and metabolic
systems and brain functions are particularly susceptible to
hazards that interfere with the organs involved. In addition,
workstations, tools, machinery and equipment are usually
designed primarily for adults, imposing higher demands on
adolescent bodies.

Stage of Young people in general have a low perception of risks,

psychosocial which they often take to be accepted by others. This attitude
and may be reflected at work, where young workers may be
emotional unaware of or may underestimate the OSH hazards and
development risks associated with their tasks. A worker’s risk of harm in
their first months in a job is higher than that of older and
more experienced workers. Young workers may also be
reluctant to speak up about difficulties in their work or about
hazardous physical and psychological conditions.

Limited job Young workers often lack the skills and experience for the
experience work to which they are assigned, including an understanding
of the OSH hazards associated with this work. A worker’s
risk of injury is four times greater during the first month in a
new job than it is after 12 months. A young worker’s risk of
injury in their first months in a job is higher than that of older
workers.

22
 Introduction

Nature of the A large number of young workers are in hazardous

work typically occupations. They are also over-represented in the informal
performed economy, where they are more exposed to work hazards
by young and have limited if any social protection coverage. Young
workers workers are often contracted for temporary and seasonal
jobs, with less access to OSH training and skill acquisition.

Work Young people usually enter the workforce without familiarity

organization of the tasks they must perform or the risks they will face.
They also may not know how to identify and eliminate job
hazards and risks. Poor supervision, lack of training and
information, and inadequate safety measures may further
increase their exposure to OSH risks.

Work Physical, chemical, biological, mechanical and psychosocial

environment hazards in the workplace impact all workers. However, the
effects on young workers are generally worse. Workplace
hazards can also affect young women and young men
differently: for example, high temperatures may be
specifically hazardous to the male reproductive system, while
exposure to chemicals that interfere with hormonal balance
may result in the reduction of the fecundity of young women.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 23

 Introduction

Young workers under 18 are usually recognized as a

vulnerable group in national laws and policies, gaining
Temporary special protections under child labour and hazardous
employment work prohibitions. The same protections are rarely
extended to older youth between the ages 18 and 24,
despite their still high risk of injury; they can legally be
employed in almost any job without the restrictions that
Non-standard forms of
apply to child workers (e.g. tasks and hours).
employment

Owing to the high number of young people entering the

labour market and their particular vulnerabilities, they
must become a priority target for national policies on
OSH and for the strategies and programmes deriving
from these policies.

Is youth participation important?

Yes!

There are several reasons why youth participation on

OSH is vitally important in realizing safe and healthy work
environments for all:
• All persons have the basic right to express their views
and to be heard. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights states that “Everyone has the right to
freedom of opinion and expression.”
• Youth under 18 years of age have the right to voice their
opinions under Articles 12 and 13 of the UN Convention
on the Rights of the Child.
• Youth 18 and older are generally considered adults and
can participate as adults on public policy issues.

24
 Introduction

• Promoting and enabling youth participation prepares

them to participate as adults on public policy issues.
• Participation empowers youth to have a greater say and
Informal economy
control over conditions that shape their lives.
• Participation raises greater awareness of the importance
of OSH for young workers.
• Young workers can join trade unions and participate in
Child labour
discussing OSH issues.
• Young workers can bring new ideas and perspectives to
the workplace.

There are several ways in which young workers can

participate in OSH discussions at different levels.
The SafeYouth@Work
For example, young workers can take part in joint
Action Plan (2018)
committees, be active members of trade unions, and take presents five areas in
part in awareness raising campaigns. Additional examples which youth can get
are presented in this package. involved in ensuring
OSH for young
workers:
To design more effective policies, strategies and • Compliance
programmes to enhance OSH for young workers, a • Data and research
participatory approach is required, involving stakeholders • Education and
training
at all levels. The ILO tripartite approach ensures
• Advocacy
the involvement of governments, organizations of • Networks
workers and of employers. If present, young workers’
organizations should also be directly engaged in this All Modules in this
package offer concrete
process, because of their unique concerns (see Figure 1).
examples of youth
engagement in these
areas.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 25

 Introduction

Figure 1 Young Workers within the Tripartite Structure

Adapted from National tripartite social dialogue: an ILO guide for improved
governance / Social Dialogue and Tripartism Unit, Governance and Tripartism
Department.

26
 Introduction

International Labour Standards

International Labour Standards (ILS) are legal instruments Convention

drawn up by the ILO’s constituents (governments,

employers and workers, and their representative
organizations) setting out basic principles and rights at
Treaty
work.

There are different types of instruments:

• Conventions: legally binding international treaties,
Ratification
which lay down core principles to be implemented
by countries that ratify them. Once it has ratified a
Convention, a country is subject to the ILO’s regular
supervisory system responsible for ensuring that the Binding
Convention is applied.5
• Recommendations: non-binding international
instruments which serve as guidelines to help member
States formulate their policies at national level. Often Recommendation
they supplement an existing convention by providing
detailed guidelines for its implementation.
• Protocols:international treaties which are linked to an
earlier convention. They allow adaptation to changing Member State

conditions since the convention was adopted, making

the convention’s obligations more relevant and up-to-
date.
Protocol

In addition, ILS can be further complemented by ILO

Codes of Practices. They are presented in the form of
technical specifications and practical recommendations
Adoption
in legal terminology. They explain in detail the

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 27

 Introduction

responsibilities of governments, employers’ and workers’

organizations, as well as the specific prevention and
Obligation control measures for the application of such standards.
They are not legally binding instruments and are not
intended to replace the provisions of national laws,
regulations, or accepted standards.

Child Labour Standards

A young worker under the age of 18 is still considered a
child and protected by child labour standards.
Child labour
The Minimum Age Convention, 1973 (No. 138) sets
out the minimum age for admission to employment,
depending on the type of work and the country’s level of
development. The general minimum working age must
be in line with the end of compulsory education and not
less than 15 years of age (developing countries have the
option of setting a minimum age of 14 as a transitional
measure as they strengthen their education systems and
economies). The minimum age for hazardous work is 18
years of age (an exception may be permissible from 16
years of age under strict conditions).

5
All ILO member states have an obligation to work towards
realizing freedom of association; the elimination of all forms
of forced or compulsory labour; the effective abolition of child
labour; and the elimination of employment discrimination. This
obligation exists even if they have not yet ratified the eight
fundamental Conventions which embody these principles.

28
 Introduction

What is child labour?

Child labour refers to work that is mentally, physically,
socially or morally dangerous and harmful to children and
interferes with their schooling by:
• Depriving them of the opportunity to attend school;
• Obliging them to leave school prematurely; or
• Requiring them to attempt to combine school
attendance with excessively long and heavy work.

Hazardous work is considered one of the worst forms

of child labour (see the Worst Forms of Child Labour
Convention, No. 182) and an urgent priority for national
and international action. Hazardous work by its nature
or the circumstances in which it is carried out is likely to
harm the health, safety or morals of children. In general,
no children should perform hazardous work.

The Convention requires that the national competent

authority, in consultation with organizations of employers
and workers, develop a national hazardous work list, Competent authority
taking into consideration the criteria provided in the
Worst Forms of Child Labour Recommendation (No. 190).

What is hazardous work?

Hazardous work is work that, by its nature or the
circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to harm
the health, safety or morals of children. In general, no
children under the age of 18 should perform hazardous
work.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 29

 Introduction

The types of hazardous work are defined at national

level through a hazardous work list. According to
Recommendation No. 190, consideration should be given
to the following:
• work that exposes children to physical, emotional or
sexual abuse;
• work underground, under water, at dangerous heights or
in confined spaces;
• work with dangerous machinery, equipment and tools,
or that involves the manual handling or transport of
heavy loads;
• work in an unhealthy environment which may, for
example, expose children to hazardous substances,
agents or processes or to temperatures, noise levels, or
vibrations damaging to their health;
• work under particularly difficult conditions such as work
for long hours or during the night or work that does not
allow for the possibility of returning home each day.

OSH Standards
The promotion of decent, safe, and healthy working
conditions and environment has been a continuous
objective of the ILO since its creation in 1919. The ILO
See Appendix 1 for
additional international Constitution (1919) established the principle that all
standards that pertain workers should be protected from sickness, disease and
to OSH and young injury arising from their employment. This basic principle
workers.
was reaffirmed in the Philadelphia Declaration (1944),
and later in the Seoul Declaration (2008), where it was
spelled out that the right to a safe and healthy working

30
 Introduction

environment should be recognized as a fundamental

human right, not only as a labour right.

The core ILO principles on OSH are embodied in the

following standards:
• The Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981
(No. 155) and its accompanying Recommendation
(No. 164) set out the basic principles for a national and
Workers’
enterprise level policy and strategy to promote OSH
representaitves
and to improve working conditions. The convention also
defines employers’ responsibilities, rights of workers
and their representatives and requirements regarding
information, education, and training. The Protocol of
Recording
2002 (No.155) incorporates specific provisions for the
recording and notification of occupational accidents and
diseases.
• The Occupational Health Services Convention, 1985
(No. 161) and its accompanying Recommendation (No. Notification

171) provide for the establishment of enterprise-level

occupational health services, which are responsible
for advising the employers, workers and their
representatives in the enterprise on maintaining a safe Occupational health
and healthy working environment. services
• The Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety
and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) and its
accompanying Recommendation (No. 197) aim at
promoting a preventative safety and health culture, OSH culture of
through the development and implementation of prevention

national policies, systems and programmes on OSH.

According to Recommendation No. 197, the national

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 31

Introduction

system should provide appropriate measures for the

protection of all workers, particularly workers in high-
risk sectors and vulnerable workers such as those in the
informal economy and migrant and young workers.

Which International Labour Standards Has My

Country Ratified?
Keep in mind that not all International Labour Standards
may be ratified by your country. To check which
conventions your country has ratified, visit the ILO
website at www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/.

In addition to the above-mentioned instruments, the

ILO has adopted more than 40 ILS addressing OSH in
specific branches of activities or specific risks. These
instruments provide for the protection of all workers
from occupational accidents and diseases, even if some
specific measures for the protection of young workers
under 18 years of age are sometimes included.

For example, in line with Conventions No. 138 and No.

182, the Safety and Health in Agriculture Convention,
2001 (No. 184) and the Work in Fishing Convention,
2007 (No. 188) establish 18 years as the minimum age
for assignment to activities in agriculture and on-board
fishing vessels respectively, which by their nature or
the circumstances in which they are carried out are
likely to jeopardize the health and safety of young
persons. In addition, the Safety and Health in Agriculture
Recommendation (No. 192) provides for the adoption of

32
 Introduction

health surveillance measures for young workers. The Work

in Fishing Recommendation, 2007 (No. 199) includes
a section on the protection of young persons, with
provisions on training and working time.

Concerning specific risks, the Radiation Protection

Convention, 1960 (No. 115) demands the adoption
of appropriate limits of permissible doses of ionising
radiation for workers aged 18 and over and for those
under the age of 18. The Asbestos Recommendation,
1986 (No. 172) requires devoting special attention to the
employment of young persons of less than 18 years of
age in activities involving a risk of occupational exposure
to asbestos.

Furthermore, the ILO adopted some instruments

specifically addressing the protection of young workers’
safety and health.

In 1946, a set of ILS was adopted, focused on medical

examinations of young workers:
• Medical Examination of Young Persons (Industry)
Convention, 1946 (No. 77).
• Medical Examination of Young Persons (Non-Industrial
Occupations) Convention, 1946 (No. 78).
• Medical Examination of Young Persons
Recommendation, 1946 (No. 79).

Conventions No. 77 and No. 78 require pre-employment

medical examinations for children and young persons

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 33

 Introduction

under the age of 18 years, to check their fitness for the

job in question; they also require medical supervision
until workers reach the age of 18, with the repetition
of medical examinations at intervals of not more than
one year. In occupations with high health risks medical
examinations and re-examinations for fitness for the
job are required until at least the age of 21 years. The
accompanying Recommendation No. 78 recognizes that
in most cases the adolescent stage does not end at 18
years of age and there is consequently still a need for
special protection. For this reason, it advises to extend
compulsory medical examination until at least 21 years for
all young workers employed in industrial or non-industrial
occupations.

In 1965 two other instruments were adopted addressing

the protection of young people performing underground
work, namely the Medical Examination of Young Persons
(Underground Work) Convention, 1965 (No. 124)
and the Conditions of Employment of Young Persons
(Underground Work) Recommendation, 1965 (No. 125).

Convention No. 124 requires a thorough medical

examination, and periodic re-examinations at intervals of
not more than one year, for the fitness of persons under
Workers’ OSH
representatives 21 years of age for employment in mines.

Recommendation No. 125 requires employers to

inform young persons (under 18 years of age),
both when engaging them and when giving them a

34
 Introduction

specific job underground, of the following: the risks of

accident and hazards to health involved in the work;
protective measures and equipment; and regulations
regarding safety and first-aid methods. It also calls OSH
OSH committee
representatives, OSH committees, inspection services and
all internal bodies concerned with OSH to give particular
attention to measures designed to safeguard the life
and health of young persons working underground in
mines, such as the following: actions to ensure prevention Personal protective
and correction of hazardous environmental and physical equipment (PPE)
conditions; inspection; accident investigation and
prevention; and supply and replacement of personal
protective equipment (PPE). The recommendation also
includes specific provisions on training programmes and
resting time for young workers employed in underground
work.

Finally, a specific instrument for young seafarers was

issued in 1976, namely the Protection of Young Seafarers
Recommendation, 1976 (No. 153). This recommendation
includes provisions for the safeguarding of the health,
morals and safety, and the promotion of general welfare
of young persons under 18 employed in any capacity
on board a sea-going ship. It includes provisions on
vocational guidance, education and vocational training
of young seafarers, as well as concerning working time
(e.g. not to exceed eight hours per day and 40 hours per
week, avoid overtime, allow 15 minutes rest after two
Domestic work
hours of continuous work, etc.).

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 35

 Introduction

Other ILS contain specific measures for the protection

of the safety, health and wellbeing of young workers
Labour inspection can also be found in instruments concerning labour
inspection, working time, vocational guidance and
training, employment, domestic work, among others.

Activity: OSH Standards Relevant to My

Profession
This activity is mainly for young workers, workers, and
employers.

As noted in this section, there are international labour

standards addressing young workers’ safety and health
that are relevant to different professions. For example,
the following are some of the relevant standards if you
are working in…

• Agriculture:The Safety and Health in Agriculture

Convention and Recommendation (2001)
• Fishing: The Work in Fishing Convention (2007) and the
Protection of Young Seafarers Recommendation (1976)
• Mining: The Asbestos Recommendation (1986) and
the Conditions of Employment of Young Persons
(Underground Work) Recommendation (1965)

Read through the list of additional standards in Appendix

1, especially those that relate to your work, and answer
the following questions:

36
 Introduction

• Wereyou aware of the provisions for young workers included in these

standards?

• What did you learn from reviewing these standards?

• Areyou aware of any local or national laws that also apply to these
standards? If yes, how do they compare to these standards – are they
equivalent, or do they offer more or less protection to young workers?

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 37

 Introduction

Summary
• The UN, for statistical purposes, defines young workers
as those between 15 and 24 years of age. In 2018, there
were around 442 million young workers, representing
almost 15 per cent of the world’s labour force.

• Several factors contribute to increased OSH risks for

young workers, such as their individual characteristics,
limited job experience and lack of OSH awareness.

• Young workers under the age of 18 are recognized as a

vulnerable group under International Labour Standards
(ILS) and in most national laws and policies, and are
consequently provided with special protection under
child labour standards and hazardous work prohibitions.
The same special protections do not apply to young
workers between the ages of 18 and 24, despite their
increased risk of workplace accidents.

• The tripartite approach to social dialogue mandated

by ILO standards brings together government
Youth organization officials and representatives of employers’ and
workers’ organizations. In order to ensure that youth
perspectives, opinions and experiences are addressed
in the OSH framework, the tripartite approach should
promote youth participation and representation within
trade unions, as well as include youth organizations in
the OSH policy debate, if appropriate.

38
 Summary

• Internationallabour standards are legal instruments that

set out basic principles and rights at work. These include
conventions, recommendations, and protocols. Many
ILS on OSH apply to all workers in general; a few OSH
standards provide specific protection for young workers.

•A young worker under the age of 18 is still considered a

child and protected by child labour standards.

• Hazardous work is work which, by its nature or the

circumstances in which it is carried out, is likely to
harm the health, safety or morals of children. National
authorities typically develop a hazardous work list.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 39

Introduction

Quiz
1. Fill in the blank:
For statistical purposes, the UN defines a young worker
as being between ________ years old.
a) 18 and 25
b) 15 and 24
c) 15 and 17
d) 15 and 30

2. What is the name of the ILO approach that brings

together government officials and representatives of
employers’ and workers’ organizations?
_________________________________________________

3. What are some factors that increase young workers’

OSH risks? Check all that apply.
a) □ Young workers are more likely than adult workers
to have jobs that are unstable.
b) □ The equipment young workers use is not always
suitable for them.
c) □ Young workers do not always receive the training
required to perform their work.
d) □ Young workers in general have a low perception
of risk.
e) □ All of the above.

4. Read each statement and indicate if it is true or false.

a) A country that has ratified an ILO Convention is

40
 Quiz

legally bound to comply with its principles.

□ True □ False
b) Hazardous work is considered one of the worst
forms of child labour according to Worst Forms of
Child Labour Convention, No. 182.
□ True □ False
c) The Convention on the Rights of the Child does
not define the age of a child, each country has its
own definition.
□ True □ False

See the answers on page 43.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 41

Introduction

42
 Answers

Answers
Quiz:
1. b. 15 and 24.
2. Tripartite approach to social dialogue.
3. e. All of the above.
4. a) True, b) True, c) False.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 43

Introduction

Learning Journal
This journal is a space in which you, the reader, can write
down personal reflections on what you have learned
throughout this self-training package. It is designed in the
format of a “reflective journal,” which focuses on three
types of questions:

44
 Learning Journal

Introduction
Reminder: Understanding the challenges of OSH for young workers,
international labour standards (including child labour and OSH standards).

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 45

Introduction

Glossary
competent authorities may be
appointed with responsibilities
for specific activities, such as for

A implementation of national policy

and procedures for reporting,
Adoption
recording and notification,
Formal act by which the form and
workers’ compensation, and the
content of a proposed treaty text
development of statistics.
are established.

Continual improvement
B
Iterative process of enhancing
Binding (or non-binding)
the OSH management system to
Imposing (or not) a legal
achieve ongoing improvements in
obligation.
overall OSH performance.

C
Convention
Child labour
Legally binding international
Work that deprives children of
treaty. Once a convention is
their childhood, their potential
adopted, member States may
and their dignity, and that is
ratify it, committing themselves
harmful to physical and mental
to applying the convention in
development.
national law and practice and to
report on its application at regular
Competent authority
intervals.
A ministry, government
department or other public
authority with the power to issue
D
Dangerous occurrence
regulations, orders or other
Readily identifiable event as
instructions having the force
defined under national laws
of law. Under national laws or
and regulations, with potential
regulations, the

46
 Glossary

to cause an injury or disease to Employers’ organization

persons at work or the public. Institution set up to organize and
advance the collective interests of
Disaggregated (data) employers.
Data are broken down in order to
show differences between various Epidemiologic study
components. For example, data Study measuring or assessing
can be disaggregated by sex, the relationship of exposure
age, ethnicity, migration status, with a disease or an outcome. It
disability, geographic location, usually compares two groups of
income level, sector and/or people who are alike except for
occupation, employment status, one factor, such as exposure to
etc. a chemical or the presence of a
health effect; the investigators
Domestic work try to determine if any factor is
Work performed in or for a associated with the health effect.
household or households. The
work may include cleaning, Exposure
cooking, washing and ironing, The process of being exposed
taking care of children, elderly or to something that is in the
sick members of a family, as well environment; exposure can affect
as household pets, gardening, people in a number of different
guarding the house and driving ways.
for the family.
Exposure routes
E The way people come into contact
Employer with a hazardous substance. There
Any physical or legal person that are three routes of exposure:
employs one or more workers. inhalation (breathing in), ingestion
(consuming) and dermal contact
(through the skin).

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 47

Introduction

Exposure patterns address them. Being gender-

The frequency and duration responsive means going beyond
people come into contact with the acknowledging gender gaps and
hazards, as well as the intensity of really doing something to address
exposure. the discrepancies.

F H
Frequency rate Hazard
Indicates the number of new cases Any situation or agent with
of injury occurring in relation to the potential to cause injury or
the amount of time during which damage to people’s health.
workers in the reference group
were “exposed to the risk” of Hazard identification
being involved in an occupational Process in which the hazards of a
accident. workplace are identified within a
system, procedure or equipment.
G
Gender analysis I
The process of systematically Incidence rate
identifying and understanding Relates the number of new cases
the needs and concerns of of occupational injury to the
both women and men before number of workers exposed to the
developing policies, determining risk of occupational injury.
strategies or planning
interventions. Incident
An unsafe occurrence arising out
Gender-responsive approach of or in the course of work where
Gender norms, roles and no personal injury is caused.
inequalities are considered and
measures are taken to actively

48
 Glossary

Induction training International Labour Standards

Training provided to new (ILS)
employees to help them become International legal instruments
familiar with their new job task, drawn up by the ILO’s tripartite
work environment and the people constituents and adopted at
working around them. the ILO’s annual International
Labour Conference. They set
Informal economy out basic principles and rights at
All economic activities by workers work. They can be conventions,
and economic units that are – in recommendations or protocols.
law or in practice – not covered
or insufficiently covered by formal Interpretive study or interpretive
arrangements. research
Study or research that attempts
Informal employment to understand phenomena
All remunerative work (i.e. through accessing the meanings
both self-employment and participants assign to them.
wage employment) that is not Interpretive research focuses
registered, regulated or protected on analytically disclosing those
by existing legal or regulatory meaning-making practices, while
frameworks, as well as non- showing how those practices
remunerative work undertaken configure to generate observable
in an income-producing outcomes.
enterprise. Informal workers do
not have secure employment K
contracts, workers’ benefits, Knowledge, Attitude and
social protection or workers’ Behaviour (KAB) study
representation. Type of study that seeks to
understand how participating
individuals gained knowledge

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 49

Introduction

on specific topics (for example, part-time and on-call work;

occupational safety and health), temporary agency work and
heightened their attitudes with other multiparty employment
respect to those topics, and relationships; disguised
the impact of knowledge and employment; dependent self-
attitudes on their behavioural employment.
change.
Notification (of occupational
L accidents and diseases)
Labour inspection Procedure specified in national
A government function carried out laws and regulations which
by specially appointed inspectors establishes the ways in which: (i)
who regularly visit work sites the employer or self-employed
in order to establish whether person submits information
legislation, rules and regulations concerning occupational
are being complied with. accidents, commuting accidents,
dangerous occurrences or
M incidents; or (ii) the employer,
Member States the self-employed person,
Countries that belong to an the insurance institution or
international organization or others directly concerned
federation. submit information concerning
occupational diseases.
N
Non-standard forms of O
employment Obligation
Different employment Legal duty by which a person
arrangements that deviate from is bound to do or not a
standard employment. They certain action. With respect
include temporary employment; to international standards in a

50
 Glossary

convention, ILO member States Occupational health services

that have ratified the convention Services entrusted with
must fulfil obligations specified in essentially preventative functions,
the convention. responsible for advising the
employer, the workers and their
Occupational accident representatives in the workplace
An occurrence arising out of or in on: (i) the requirements for
the course of work which results establishing and maintaining
in fatal or non-fatal occupational a safe and healthy working
injury. environment which will facilitate
optimal physical and mental
Occupational disease health in relation to work; and
A disease contracted as a result of (ii) the adaptation of work to the
an exposure to risk factors arising capabilities of workers in the
from work activity. light of their state of physical and
mental health.
Occupational exposure limits
Concentration in the air of a Occupational injury
harmful substance which does Death or any personal injury
not, as far as may be judged or disease resulting from an
in the light of present scientific occupational accident.
knowledge, cause adverse health
effects in workers exposed for Occupational Safety and Health
eight to ten hours a day and 40 (OSH)
hours a week. It is not an absolute The science of the anticipation,
dividing line between harmless recognition, evaluation and
and harmful concentrations but control of hazards arising in or
merely a guide for the prevention from the workplace that could
of hazards. impair the health and wellbeing
of workers, taking into account

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 51

Introduction

the possible impact on the those objectives.

surrounding communities and the
general environment. P
Personal protective equipment
OSH committee (PPE)
A committee with workers’ OSH Equipment a worker wears as a
representatives and employer’s barrier between himself or herself
representatives established and the hazardous agent(s).
and functioning at enterprise
level according to national laws, Protocol
regulations and practice. Legally binding legal instrument
which adds new provisions to an
OSH culture of prevention existing convention.
A culture in which the right
to a safe and healthy working Q
environment is respected at Qualitative data
all levels, where government, Data consisting of words and
employers and workers actively narratives; information that
participate in securing a safe and approximates or characterizes but
healthy working environment that cannot actually be measured.
through a system of defined
rights, responsibilities and Quantitative data
duties, and where the principle Numerical data; information that
of prevention is accorded the can be measured and verified
highest priority. and is amenable to statistical
manipulation.
OSH management system
A set of interrelated or interacting
elements to establish OSH policy
and objectives, and to achieve

52
 Glossary

R and incidents.
Ratification
International act whereby a Reporting (of occupational
member State indicates its accidents and diseases)
consent to be bound to a treaty if Procedure specified by the
the parties intended to show their employer in accordance with
consent by such an act. national laws and regulations, and
in accordance with the practice at
Recommendation the enterprise, for the submission
International legal instrument by workers to their immediate
which serve as non-binding supervisor, the competent person,
guidelines. Recommendations or any other specified person or
often supplement a convention body, of information on: (a) any
by providing more detailed occupational accident or injury to
guidelines on how it could health which arises in the course
be applied, but can also be of or in connection with work; (b)
autonomous (i.e. not linked to any suspected cases of occupational
convention). diseases; (c) commuting
accidents; and (d) dangerous
Recording (of occupational occurrences and incidents.
accidents and diseases)
Procedure specified in national Risk
laws and regulations which A combination of the likelihood
establish the means by which the of an occurrence of a hazardous
employer or self-employed person event and the severity of injury or
ensures that information be damage to the health of people
maintained on: (a) occupational caused by this event.
accidents; (b) occupational
diseases; (c) commuting accidents; Risk assessment
and (d) dangerous occurrences Process of evaluating the risks

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 53

Introduction

to safety and health arising from Treaty

hazards at work. International agreement made
by negotiation between two or
Risk control more international actors (such as
Process of finding appropriate sovereign states and international
measures to eliminate or minimize organizations).
an identified risk.
Tripartite constituents (ILO
Risk management tripartite constituents)
Process of identification, Government, employer, and
assessment and control of worker representatives.
risks, which aims at avoiding,
minimizing or eliminating them. W
Worker
S Any person who performs work,
Severity rate either regularly or temporarily, for
Indicates the consequences an employer.
of occupational injuries; it is
measured as the amount of time Workers’ health surveillance
lost in relation to the total amount Procedures and investigations
of time worked. to assess workers’ health in
order to detect and identify
T any abnormality. The results of
Temporary employment surveillance should be used to
Workers are engaged only for a protect and promote the health of
specific period of time; it includes the individual, collective health at
fixed-term, project- or task-based the workplace, and the health of
contracts, as well as seasonal or the exposed working population.
casual work, including day labour. Health assessment procedures
may include, but are not limited

54
 Glossary

to, medical examinations, elected by the workers of the

biological monitoring, radiological enterprise).
examinations, questionnaires or a
review of health records. Work-related disease
A disease with multiple causal
Workers’ OSH representative agents which may include factors
Workers’ representative elected in the work environment.
or appointed in accordance with
national laws, regulations and Y
practice to represent workers’ Young worker
interests in OSH issues at the Worker between the minimum
workplace. age for employment and 24 years
of age.
Workers’ organization (or trade
union) Young workers’ organization
Democratic, self-organizing Organization dedicated to
institution of working people improving working conditions for
wishing to advance their rights as young workers.
workers and citizens.
Youth organizations
Workers’ representative Organization established to
Any person who is recognized provide activities and socialization
as such by national law or for young people. A youth
practice, whether they are organization can be created and
trade union representatives run by young people themselves
(i.e. representatives designated or by interested adults.
or elected by trade unions or Boy scouts are an example of
by members of such unions) youth organizations operating at
or elected representatives (i.e. local, national and international
representatives who are freely level.

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 55

Introduction

References
• Alli, B. O. 2008. Fundamental principles of
occupational health and safety. (Geneva: ILO).
• ILO. 1996. Recording and notification of
occupational accidents and diseases. An ILO code
of practice. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2001. Guidelines on occupational safety and
health management systems, ILO-OSH 2001.
(Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2008. Occupational injuries statistics from
household surveys and establishment surveys, ILO
manual on methods. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2011. Labour administration and labour
inspection. Report V. International Labour
Conference, 100th Session, 2011. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2012. Training Package on Development of a
National Programme of Occupational Safety and
Health. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2013. Building a Preventative Safety and
Health Culture. A guide to the Occupational
Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155), its
2002 Protocol and the Promotional Framework for
Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006
(No. 187). (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2013. Plan Safe, Plan Healthy: Guidelines for
Developing National Programmes on Occupational
Safety and Health. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2013. 10 Keys for Gender Sensitive OSH

56
 References

Practice – Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming in Occupational

Safety and Health. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2017. Challenges for the collection of reliable OSH data - Fact
sheet. (Geneva: ILO).
• ---. 2017. Data Sources for Optimizing the Collection and Use of OSH
data.
• ---. 2017. Towards Safety and Health for Young Workers: Knowledge,
Attitudes and Behaviour of Young Workers in the Agriculture,
Construction and Craft Villages Sectors in Selected Regions of
Myanmar, the Philippines and Viet Nam. (Geneva: ILO).

Webpages:
• ILO. LEGOSH – Global Database on Occupational Safety and
Health Legislation. Available at: https://www.ilo.org/dyn/legosh/
en/f?p=14100:1000:0::NO:::
• ILO. National profiles on occupational safety and health. Available
at: https://www.ilo.org/safework/areasofwork/national-occupational-
safety-and-health-systems-and-programmes/WCMS_187981/lang--en/
index.html

Improving OSH for Young Workers: A Self-Training Package 57

 Introduction

Workers of all ages have the right to a safe and healthy work environment. As
active contributors of labour markets worldwide, young workers between the
ages of 15 and 24 typically experience higher rates of work-related injuries
than adult workers. Raising awareness of and ensuring compliance with
occupational safety and health (OSH) standards for young workers can help
reduce injuries and improve the working environment.

The ILO has prepared this self-training package in order to strengthen the
capacity of governments, employers, workers (including young workers) and
their organizations to improve OSH management for young workers through
the assessment and implementation of strategies and actions through national
OSH systems.

The Introduction illustrates the OSH vulnerabilities faced by young

workers and the International Labour Standards
promoting OSH for young workers

Module 1 presents an overview of a national OSH framework

(OSH policy, system, profile, and programme) and
how such a framework can support OSH for young
workers

Module 2 describes how to assess the national context and

develop practical strategies and actions to improve
OSH for young workers

Module 3 outlines a basic framework for identifying hazards and

managing risks facing young workers in the workplace

The Appendices contain additional information related to OSH for

young workers

As a self-training package, the reader is encouraged to apply

LEARN MORE

what they are learning through a range of activities, quizzes, a

learning journal and action guides. All of these learning tools
are designed to encourage the reader to develop and act on
practical ways to improve OSH for young workers, and thereby
ensuring safer and healthier work for all.
58