A 2024 Injury Impact Report found that over a third of workplace injury claims between 2017 and 2021 came from employees in their first year on the job, with an average of 79 missed workdays per claim. There’s already growing concern about labour shortages and experienced workers are beginning to age out across a number of industries – a trend that’s expected to continue in 2025. In the coming year, there’s a critical need to prioritize new and young worker training to prevent accidents and associated costs, reduce employee turnover, and develop a workforce that supports your business’s long-term success.
Training is Job One
The first year on the job is a high-risk period for new and young employees who often lack the necessary hands-on experience to manage tasks safely and efficiently. This reflects the vulnerabilities caused by inexperience and unfamiliarity with safety protocols.
The good news? Majority of these claims are preventable. Over 50% are the result of overexertion or slips, trips, and falls, which can all be addressed through a well-structured training program.
Invest in Employee Success
While the primary goal of training is injury prevention, proper training increases employee retention for both new and tenured workers. Giving workers the tools and knowledge they need to avoid preventable injuries creates a sense of security and shows that your company actively invests in employee well-being.
In some cases, companies experiencing workforce shortages might give new or young employees more responsibility than their experience allows them to handle, leading to avoidable accidents. Manage workloads and ensure that employees, regardless of tenure, receive industry specific training to mitigate injury risks. This helps build a culture of safety where new workers gain experience and share their knowledge with their team.
Productivity Up. Costs Down.
Workplace injuries lead to reduced productivity, higher insurance premiums, and potential legal costs. In the construction industry, for example, the average missed days for new worker claims is 103. That’s 103 days of reduced output and worker compensation payments. Also consider how an injury with that length of recovery might affect a new worker’s desire to return to your company. Developing comprehensive training for new workers that focuses on mitigating common first-year risks is an important investment in protecting the bottom line.
Safety training for new and young workers is about more than injury prevention and cost savings – it’s a vital step in building the next generation of workers who can ensure long-term success for your business. For more information on best-in-class safety training, reach out to your Bunzl Safety expert today.
