Prevalence and demographic differences in microaccidents and safety behaviors among young workers in Canada.
BACKGROUND
The present study examines the self-reported frequency of non-lost work time workplace injuries ("microaccidents") and the frequency of three types of work-related safety behaviors (i.e., safety voice, safety compliance, and safety neglect) recalled over a four-week period.


METHODS
We analyzed data on microaccidents and safety behaviors from 19,547 young workers (aged 15-25years, Mdn=18years; 55% male) from multiple Canadian provinces.


RESULTS
Approximately one-third of all young workers recalled experiencing at least one microaccident at work in the last four weeks. Comparisons across three age groups revealed that younger workers, particularly between the ages of 15-18, reported more frequent microaccidents, less safety voice, less safety compliance, and more safety neglect than workers aged 19-22. This pattern of results also held for comparisons between workers in 19-22 and 23-25 age groups, except for safety voice which did not differ between these two older age groups. In terms of gender, males and females reported the same frequency of microaccidents, but males reported more safety voice, more safety compliance, and more safety neglect than females did. The results and limitations of the present study are discussed.


CONCLUSIONS
Frequency of microaccidents and safety behavior vary among young worker age sub-groups.
Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary, Canada.
Nick
N
Turner
Faculty of Business Administration, University of Regina, Canada. Electronic address: sean.tucker@uregina.ca.
Sean
S
Tucker
Department of Psychology, Saint Mary's University, Canada.
E Kevin
EK
Kelloway
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001519:Behavior; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016272:Occupational Health; D015995:Prevalence; D012449:Safety; D012737:Sex Factors; D014831:Voice; D017132:Workplace / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
Canada; Injuries; Safety voice; Young workers