Youth Rights @ Work Campaign

Work Safely, Design Your Future!

This article is one of six articles about youth rights at work as part of the ILO's efforts and campaign in promoting decent work for all, including youth. The article is part of the ILO's Youth Rights @ Work Campaign.

Article | Jakarta, Indonesia | 17 January 2018

As young people or young workers entering the labour market, we are among the workers most at risk of occupational injuries. This happens because we are trying too hard to make a good impression. However, these efforts are sometimes not complemented with an understanding of occupational safety and health (OSH), including understanding about the risk of accidents and mitigation.

Did you know, the International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates at least 2.3 million people worldwide die each year due to work-related accidents and diseases.

As workers, we are also obliged to keep OSH for ourselves and other workers, to follow safety training, to carry out safe working procedures, to immediately report if there is an OSH hazard, and to comply with applicable OSH requirements. we are also entitled to get information about the dangers in the workplace and how to handle it.

There are two forms of accident and disease threats in the workplace, they are health hazard and safety hazard. Health hazards include everything that can cause work-related illnesses, such as hearing loss and respiratory problems.

There are four types of hazards that can cause occupational illnesses, they are:

  1. Chemical hazards such as gases, vapors, liquids, or dust that are harmful to the body
  2. Biological hazards include livings organism that cause influenza, hepatitis, or tuberculosis
  3. Physical hazards such as heat, light, vibration, noise or radiation
  4. Ergonomic hazards that include poorly-furnished furniture, fittings, and appliances.
Safety hazard is anything that can cause a direct accident or injury, including burns, cuts, broken bones, or even death. Some examples safety hazard are slipping or tripping over power lines or spills, fires, lifting heavy loads, and so on.

To avoid the occupational hazards, employers are required to provide safe and healthy workplaces, provide information and training to protect occupational health and safety, ensure all equipment is safe and well maintained, and meet OSH requirements.

As workers, we are also obliged to keep OSH for ourselves and other workers, to follow safety training, to carry out safe working procedures, to immediately report if there is an OSH hazard, and to comply with applicable OSH requirements.

In addition, we are entitled to get information about the dangers in the workplace and how to handle it. We are entitled to be a member of an established occupational health body to advise on OSH improvement in the workplace. We are also entitled to reject harmful work for ourselves or others.

It’s time for us to be always careful making ourselves and others safe. Just a reminder that health and safety are our keys to pursuit the future.

Let’s be aware of our rights at work!