Pinnacol Assurance highlights summer job safety strategies for teens

Insurer recognizes National Safety Month with tips on avoiding common injuries

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May 30, 2018, 04:04 ET

DENVER, May 30, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As school lets out for the summer and eager teenage workers enter the workforce in many cases for the first time, it's an ideal time to consider their safety while they deliver pizza, serve as a lifeguard at the rec center, work as a camp counselor, caddy at the golf course, or wherever they find a summer job. June is also National Safety Month, and Pinnacol Assurance, Colorado's leading workers' compensation insurer, is offering guidance to employers to keep their young workers safe, as well as tips for teens to identify potentially unsafe working conditions.

"More than 40 percent of the workplace injury claims we see are new hires, and included in this figure are teens working summer jobs," said James McMillan, director of safety services at Pinnacol Assurance. "A first job is an ideal place to learn good workplace safety habits that can keep you safe throughout your work life."

According to Pinnacol's claims data, the most common injuries for Colorado workers under 20 are:

Contusion
Laceration
Sprain
Strain
Puncture

Last year alone, Pinnacol claims data indicated more than 240 Colorado teens injured themselves in these ways. Also, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, workers under 25 years of age are twice as likely to end up in the emergency room.

Workplace accidents can have many causes but common areas of risk that teens and their employers can look out for are:

Handling sharp objects/equipment without proper training/safety equipment
Lifting too much without help, not using the right tool/dolly/cart
Improper footwear, wet or slippery floors, rushing
Carrying hot food/liquids
Prolonged standing
Exposure to heat/sun
Driving vehicles or operating equipment without proper training

Pinnacol Assurance has the largest, most experienced safety staff in Colorado, with 27 certified safety professionals, ergonomic specialists and certified industrial hygienists. The company also offers training programs for employers to create safe working environments for their employees.

About Pinnacol Assurance
Pinnacol Assurance does just one thing, and does it better than anyone: provide caring workers' compensation protection to Colorado employers and their employees. The 57,000 employers we insure enjoy fast claims support, convenient online tools, a keen understanding of their business, and the expertise of the largest workplace safety team in the state. We're responsible stewards of our customer premiums, giving back through general dividends and rate decreases for three years in a row. Pinnacol's commitment to the community went deep in 2017, with thousands of hours volunteered and thoughtful grants to nonprofits supporting rehabilitative health, employee safety and workforce development. Our online home is Pinnacol.com.

Contact: Edie Sonn
Vice President, Communications & Public Affairs
303.361.4896 (office), 720.201.7307 (mobile)
[email protected]

SOURCE Pinnacol Assurance