Improving safety outcomes for young construction workers

Young workers play a significant role in South Africa’s construction industry. They bring energy and adaptability to a sector that remains essential to infrastructure development, economic growth and job creation. In a country where youth unemployment remains a major social and economic challenge, construction can offer a crucial pathway into the labour market, particularly for young people entering technical, artisan and site-based roles.

However, young and inexperienced workers are also among the more vulnerable groups on construction sites. The International Labour Organization reports that young workers aged 15–24 experience up to 40% higher rates of non-fatal occupational injuries than older workers. In construction, where hazards such as working at height, moving machinery, electrical risks, falling objects and changing site conditions are part of daily operations, this vulnerability demands focused attention.

Improving safety outcomes for young workers is therefore not only a compliance issue but also a long-term investment in the construction industry’s future safety culture.

Understanding the risks

Young construction workers often enter the workplace with limited practical experience and exposure to occupational health and safety (OHS) principles. Although they may receive general instruction during induction, many have not yet developed the confidence or judgement to recognise risks, ask questions or challenge unsafe practices.

The risk is not only technical but also behavioural. Young workers may feel pressure to prove themselves, avoid appearing inexperienced or keep up with older, more experienced colleagues. In fast-paced construction environments, where deadlines and productivity pressures can dominate, this may discourage them from reporting hazards or seeking clarification before undertaking unfamiliar tasks.

Common risk factors include insufficient supervision, limited hands-on training, a lack of hazard recognition skills, poor communication, deadline pressures and uncertainty about workers’ rights and responsibilities. For this reason, structured onboarding, ongoing training, visible supervision and mentorship are essential.

The early years of employment are especially important. The behaviours young workers develop early in their careers often shape their long-term approach to safety. If they learn from the start that safety is practical, respected and actively enforced, they are more likely to carry those habits throughout their working lives.

Closing the OHS gap

One of the major challenges facing the industry is that OHS education is often introduced only after a young person has entered the workplace. By then, there may already be gaps in safety awareness, risk perception and confidence.

This reactive approach places unnecessary pressure on employers, supervisors and new workers. It also means many young people arrive on site without a basic understanding of workplace hazards, personal protective equipment (PPE), emergency procedures or the importance of reporting unsafe conditions.

Increasingly, safety specialists advocate that safety awareness begins earlier, before young people enter high-risk sectors. Just as learners are exposed to road safety, health education and environmental awareness, basic workplace safety can also be introduced as a life skill.

This is where FEM’s Health and Safety School Awareness Programme serves as one example of an industry initiative aimed at addressing this gap. By bringing safety education into schools, FEM helps bridge the gap between education and employment. These initiatives are intended to support early awareness and do not replace formal workplace training and regulatory compliance obligations.

The programme introduces learners to basic workplace safety concepts before they enter the industry, helping them understand hazard recognition, personal responsibility and the importance of prevention.

This early-intervention model strengthens the construction safety pipeline. It prepares future workers before they arrive on site and fosters a more proactive culture of injury prevention.

FEM’s role in industry safety

The Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company (FEM) is a non-life insurer licensed under the Insurance Act 18 of 2017 and a COIDA (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act) mutual licensee that provides compensation cover for occupational injuries and diseases within the construction sector. FEM also supports occupational health and safety awareness initiatives in the South African construction industry.

Its participation extends beyond compensation cover. Through its safety programmes and awareness campaigns, FEM supports prevention, education and behavioural change.

FEM’s Construction Safety Report for the period 2015 to 2021 found that, within its insured portfolio, an average of 36 construction workers were injured on construction sites each day. This statistic underscores the need for stronger safety systems, particularly for new and young workers entering the sector.

FEM’s prevention work includes initiatives such as Safetember, which raises awareness of common construction hazards and promotes practical measures to improve site safety. FEM’s “ZERO Is No Accident” campaign further reinforces the message that injuries are not inevitable. With proper planning, compliance, supervision, training and worker engagement, safer outcomes are achievable.

This approach reflects a broader industry focus on strengthening OHS practices. Compensation remains vital when injuries occur, but prevention delivers the greatest benefit to workers, employers and the industry.

Workplace injuries can disrupt projects, reduce productivity, undermine morale and have long-term consequences for workers and their families. For a young worker, a serious injury early in life can affect future earnings, confidence, employability and career development.

By investing in awareness, education and prevention, FEM helps strengthen not only individual workplaces but also the broader safety culture of the construction industry.

Building safer work environments

Effective safety management starts with practical, site-specific training. Young workers need to understand the real risks they will face in daily operations. This includes identifying hazards, using machinery safely, working at height, wearing and maintaining appropriate PPE, following emergency procedures and reporting unsafe conditions.

Induction should not be treated as a one-off administrative requirement. It must be supported by regular toolbox talks, refresher training, safety demonstrations, visible leadership and active supervision. Training is most effective when it is practical, repeated and directly linked to the tasks workers perform.

Employers also need to create an environment in which young workers feel able to speak up. A worker who fears being mocked, ignored or punished is less likely to report a hazard.

A strong safety culture is one in which reporting is encouraged, questions are welcomed and unsafe behaviour is corrected before an incident occurs.

The role of mentorship and supervision

Mentorship is one of the most effective ways to improve safety outcomes among young workers. Experienced supervisors and workers can help younger employees understand not only the rules but also the reasons behind them.

Effective mentorship fosters confidence, reinforces safe practices and supports the development of judgment among young workers. Furthermore, it offers a practical link between formal training and on-site conditions.

Supervisors play a crucial role by setting the tone for safe behaviour, spotting unsafe practices early and ensuring pressure to produce does not compromise safety procedures. When supervisors demonstrate safe behaviours and communicate clearly, young workers are more inclined to prioritise safety.

Fostering a prevention-oriented culture

A strong safety culture is built on shared responsibility. Employers must provide safe systems of work, training and supervision. Workers must follow procedures, use protective equipment correctly and report unsafe conditions. Industry stakeholders, insurers, training institutions and schools also have a role in preparing young people for safer participation in the workplace.

FEM’s work in this area demonstrates the value of early, practical and sustained safety awareness. The Health and Safety School Awareness Programme supports prevention before employment. Safetember and ZERO Is No Accident continue to reinforce that message across the industry. These initiatives reinforce the principle that safety is not only a legal obligation but also a human responsibility, and reflect a broader industry focus on strengthening OHS practices.

As South Africa continues to invest in infrastructure, protecting young workers must remain a priority. The industry’s future depends on attracting and retaining skilled young people while ensuring they return home safely each day. By combining early education, structured workplace training, mentorship and strong supervision, the construction sector can reduce injuries and build a more resilient workforce.

Programmes such as FEM’s Health and Safety School Awareness exemplify how proactive measures can help cultivate not only safer workers but also a more robust safety culture for the future of the construction industry.

Nazeer Hoosen

CEO

Federated Employers Mutual Assurance Company

Image credit: Magnific