At a glance
- Youth@Work—Talking Safety is a workplace safety and health curriculum.
- It includes a teaching manual, presentation, and supplemental videos.
About
Youth@Work—Talking Safety is a fun, free, and engaging curriculum that helps teachers and school and community-based job placement staff educate young people about the basics of job safety and health.
The curriculum presents essential information and career-readiness skills. These skills are transferable across industries and occupations and will help students stay safe and healthy at work throughout their lives.
- Each of the six main lessons is designed for a 45-minute class period.
- It includes five supplemental, 45-minute lessons with additional activities that can be used in conjunction with the main lessons.
- The curriculum is flexible and easily tailored to the needs of your students.
NIOSH and partners, who are dedicated to reducing occupational injuries and illnesses among youth, developed this science-based curriculum.
Teaching Talking Safety
Curriculum
Handbook – Updated version coming soon*
Presentation – Updated version coming soon*
Companion video: Teen Workers: Real Jobs, Real Risks (Mallory's Story) Video
*email nioshmedia@cdc.gov for questions regarding updated handbook and presentation.
Supplemental video series
These six short videos are designed to guide instructors of the NIOSH Youth@Work—Talking Safety curriculum through its key concepts and activities.
Total Running Time: 33:04
Lesson 1
While many young people have thought about working, have they considered that, while work has many benefits, it also has risks?
This lesson explains how to: introduce the topic of workplace safety and health, assess students' prior knowledge, and teach students that injuries at work are predictable and preventable. It also covers the job-safety quiz and Mallory's story, a real-life account of a teen injured on the job.
Young Worker Injuries (Pub. No. 2018-165A)
Total run time: 6:02
Lesson 2
Identifying hazards at work is an important life skill. How is it done?
This lesson guides instructors on how to teach what a job hazard is, the different categories of job hazards, and how to find information using a Safety Data Sheet (also called SDSs). It also covers the activities Find the Hazards worksheets and Hazard Mapping.
Finding Hazards (Pub No. 2018-165B)
Total run time: 5:09
Lesson 3
After identifying a hazard, what should a young worker do?
This lesson guides instructors on how to explain the three main ways to reduce or eliminate hazards in the workplace:
- Remove the hazard
- Implement policies and procedures
- Use personal protective equipment (PPE)
It also covers the hazard control game Safety Pyramid.
Making the Job Safer (Pub. No. 2018-165C)
Total run time: 8:27
Lesson 4
Emergencies can happen at any time and any place, even at work. Are young workers prepared?
This lesson guides instructors on how to teach what an emergency is and the different types of workplace emergencies. It also covers the Disaster Blaster! game, which teaches students strategies to respond to emergencies.
Emergencies at Work (Pub. No. 2018-165D)
Total run time: 4:16
Lesson 5
Are young workers aware of their special rights and their responsibilities at work?
This lesson guides instructors on how to teach students about the legal protections they have as minor workers (under the age of 18). It also covers the Know Your Rights Quiz Game.
Please note: This video focuses on state specific information that is no longer included in the updated lesson plan.
Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (Pub. No. 2018-165E)
Total run time: 5:15
Lesson 6
Are young workers ready to apply their workplace safety and health knowledge to real-word situations?
This lesson guides instructors on how to empower students to communicate with employers about problems at work. It also covers the mini skits, an activity in which students practice talking to managers about safety or health issues.
Taking Action (Pub. No. 2018-165F)
Total run time: 5:55
