Whether you are a young adult or teen concerned about your safety at work or you are the parent of a young worker, it is crucial to review some of the different hazards that younger workers encounter. In the workplace, accidents occur far too often, and these have the potential to disrupt many aspects of a young person’s life.
By taking a closer look at statistics on job-related injuries involving young workers, you can recognize the prevalence of this serious issue.
Data on workplace injuries affecting young workers
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the risk of suffering a job-related injury is especially high for young workers. In fact, data shows that during 2018, the rate of workers between the ages of 15 and 19 who received emergency treatment due to job-related injuries was 2.2 times higher than the rate for those 25 and over.
In 2019, 108.2 out of every 10,000 full-time employees between 16 and 19 suffered nonfatal injuries, higher than those between 20 and 24 (96.2 out of every 10,000).
Other statistics on young workers and workplace accidents
In addition to injuries, many young workers lose their lives when accidents occur on the job. During 2019, 409 workers under 24 lost their lives at work, 34 of whom had not reached the age of 18. Moreover, young workers make up a significant part of the labor force. During 2019, 12% (roughly 19.6 million) workers in the U.S. were under 24. This data should serve as a reminder of how important accident prevention is, not only for employers but for workers as well.
