New research shows young people’s brains are still developing until well into their 20s, and this can impact on workplace safety. Decision making, risk taking and even fatigue are affected by a still-maturing brain.

Understanding how young people think, feel and operate can make a big difference to work safety and help employers choose safety strategies that work with young people’s strengths while working around any limitations.

yPack is a series of resources for Field Officers, employers, parents and apprentices. Developed especially for the Group Training industry, yPack is based on extensive research and consultation with employers, apprentices and trainees across NSW. These consultations clearly showed that few had considered approaching young worker safety differently, even though employers acknowledged the good WHS structures generally in place weren't as effective with young employees.

yPack was developed by Youthsafe in partnership with the Group Training Association of NSW and with funding support from WorkCover NSW under the WorkCover Assist Grants Program.

The yPack resources contain information on:

• Characteristics of young people that can impact on safety, including risk taking, inexperience, communication style, alcohol and drugs and stress/mental health.

• How to identify when young worker characteristics might be influencing behaviour at work.

• Strategies for managing young worker safety in light of their still developing bodies and brains.

• How understanding young workers helps to better meet WHS obligations and protect the health and safety of everyone in the workplace.

yPack contents: