June 26, 2008 (LANSING, MICHIGAN) – More than 4 million students will enter the workforce as seasonal workers this summer—and while these students are an excellent asset to businesses, they also are at risk of being injured if proper safety training isn’t provided.

Student workers are nearly twice as likely as adults to be injured on the job, due in large part to a lack of workplace training. According to Accident Fund’s recently completed Future Business Index, just over half (54 percent) of businesses surveyed plan to provide any safety training for their student workers, despite saying that workplace safety is a high priority.

“We were surprised to hear that so few companies offer safety training to student employees,” said Keith Adkins, Vice President of Marketing at Accident Fund. “Parents might believe their children are receiving adequate safety training, but based on the survey results, that isn’t necessarily the case.”

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) indicates that approximately 70 teenagers die each year from work-related injuries, and nearly 70,000 are injured severely enough to be taken to the emergency room. As part of an effort to decrease workplace injuries for student workers, Accident Fund developed “WorkSafe Students,” a free student workplace safety program for use in high schools and businesses.

“Student workers are particularly vulnerable, due to their lack of experience,” Adkins said. As a workers compensation insurance company, we want to provide tools to keep students safe and employers aware.” It is essential that businesses understand the laws around student employment and that they recognize that specific training needs to be geared toward the student. Traditional safety training isn’t always enough for teen workers.

The WorkSafe Students program is a 45-minute interactive awareness session geared toward high school juniors and seniors. The program can be taught in a classroom or assembly format. Students and employers need to understand child labor laws and potential workplace dangers. The WorkSafe Students program is designed to address these issues, helping to reduce injuries and fatalities.

The WorkSafe Students program includes:

• A teaching guide.
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• A student booklet, "Nightmare on Employment Street: Accident Fund's Teen Guide to Workplace Safety," which uses an edgy, horror-movie theme.
• A gripping short video, “Lost Youth: Four Stories of Injured Young Workers.”

“We want to reinforce to this age group that accidents can and do happen,” Adkins said. “We also want business owners to make sure they are taking the right steps toward student safety. Workplace safety is our passion, and this program empowers students to know their rights and make safe decisions on the job.”

To learn more about the WorkSafe Students program, view the brochure and video, and find out how to obtain the kit, please visit www.worksafestudents.com.

Accident Fund’s Future Business Index is produced twice annually. Working in conjunction with EPIC ▪ MRA, 600 to 700 small- to mid-sized businesses across Michigan are asked about their business outlook. The details are calculated and distributed throughout Michigan. The next survey will occur in November 2008. The survey margin of error is ±4.0 percent.

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