Youth: The Time to Gain Wisdom

The experience and knowledge that constitute wisdom are the results of learning, which people mostly engage in during their youth. People apply the results of learning even as they continue to learn: having acquired certain life knowledge, a person applies it immediately, regardless of age. For example, in Leo Tolstoy's novel "War and Peace," we meet the young Natasha Rostova, who was a carefree girl with her head in the clouds and remained just as flighty as she grew up. Only after certain events did she become a strong young woman for whom family came first. Thus, in childhood, people do not think about serious matters; only later, having gained experience and wisdom, do they prioritize completely different values than they did in their youth.

At the same time, according to European statistics, young workers aged 15 to 29 are 50% more likely to be at risk of workplace injury than older employees. Young employees are injured more often than others and remain at risk of accidents for several reasons. According to experts, the high injury rate among young people is due to a lack of experience, knowledge, and competence; they are often overconfident in their physical abilities and neglect HSE requirements. Young employees may have a "romanticized" view of potential risks. Even when they recognize risks, they sometimes fail to take the necessary measures to avoid injury.

To address the causes of high injury rates among young people, we have developed a tool to draw their attention to industrial safety and HSE issues: industrial safety and HSE competitions for young workers. After all, a competitive format is always engaging because it provides an opportunity to demonstrate and apply knowledge gained on the job, as well as to build teambuilding skills for problem-solving. These competitions are held in two rounds: in the first round, each team member must complete test assignments, and in the second round, practical skills are assessed.

The winners of the competitions are awarded a traveling trophy, diplomas, and a cash prize. All participants and organizers receive commemorative souvenirs. Information about the results is shared with the company's employees through coverage in the plant's media outlets. The competitions are held annually, and the steady growth in the number of participants is a clear indicator of the tool's effectiveness.