Occupational Safety and Health Among Young Workers in the Nordic Countries: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

This review aimed to identify risk factors for occupational accidents and illnesses among young workers in the Nordic countries and to attain knowledge on specific vulnerable groups within the young working force that may need special attention. We conducted a systematic review from 1994 to 2014 using five online databases. Of the 12,528 retrieved articles, 54 met the review criteria and were quality assessed, in which data were extracted focusing on identifying occupational safety, health risk factors, and vulnerable groups among the young workers. The review shows that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers. Results show that exposures to chemical substances were associated with skin reactions, e.g., hand eczema. Heavy lifting and awkward postures were risk factors for low back pain, and high job demands were risk factors for mental health outcomes. The review identified young unskilled workers including school drop-out workers as particularly vulnerable groups when it comes to occupational accidents. In addition, apprentices and young skilled workers were found to be vulnerable to work-related illnesses. It is essential to avoid stereotyping young Nordic workers into one group using only age as a factor, as young workers are a heterogeneous group and their vulnerabilities to occupational safety and health risks are contextual. Politicians, researchers, and practitioners should account for this complexity in the education, training and organization of work, and workplace health and safety culture.

Nonfatal Occupational Injuries to Younger Workers — United States, 2012–2018

“…The disparity in the number of injuries among young workers has been reported in other countries (6,7). Evidence suggests that contributors to increased injury risk among younger workers include the following: workplace hazards associated with young worker jobs; violations of child labor laws; fast pace of work; minority status; and lack of skills, experience, supervision, and high-quality safety training.…”

“…Evidence suggests that contributors to increased injury risk among younger workers include the following: workplace hazards associated with young worker jobs; violations of child labor laws; fast pace of work; minority status; and lack of skills, experience, supervision, and high-quality safety training. Young workers might be less likely to recognize workplace hazards, voice safety concerns, and be aware of their legal protections (3,(6)(7)(8).…”

Physical Activity Promotion for Apprentices in Nursing Care and Automotive Mechatronics–Competence Counts More than Volume

“…For a large number of young people who do not follow higher education after graduating from school, vocational education and training mark the first step into working life. Despite their recent entry into the labor market, young workers are already exposed to increased health risks and vulnerable to work-related diseases [3]. Studies have shown that the health burdens of apprentices are particularly high in occupations with high physical demands, such as the automotive industry and nursing care.…”

Prevalence of musculoskeletal disorder among male palestrato

“…The musculoskeletal problems are signifi cant problem within the European Union with respect to ill health, productivity [18]. The reviews show that mechanical factors such as heavy lifting, psychosocial factors such as low control over work pace, and organizational factors such as safety climate are all associated with increased injury risk for young Nordic workers, this leads to the decrease in productivity due to absence from work, chronic diseases and health expenditures lead to estimated annual spending of 2.1 billion Euros in the Netherlands and about 45 to 54 million Dollars in the United States [19,20].…”