New campaign encourages young workers to speak up about unsafe conditions at work

WorkSafe Victoria Launches UMM Campaign to Encourage Young Workers to Speak Up

WorkSafe Victoria has launched a new safety campaign targeting young workers, aiming to build confidence among new entrants to the workforce so they never accept unsafe work conditions. The initiative forms part of a broader push across Australian workplaces to improve health outcomes for those just starting their careers.

Named "UMM", the character derives from that hesitant sound many of us make when unsure what to say, particularly in unfamiliar workplace settings. This speak up campaign teaches young workers about their rights and encourages them to raise health and safety issues before hazards escalate into incidents.

Why Young Workers Hesitate to Report Safety Concerns

"Like many young workers, UMM is eager to make a good impression but can feel a little awkward about speaking up if something feels unsafe," WorkSafe Executive Director Health and Safety Narelle Beer said.

"No worker should ever feel unsafe. We've all experienced that 'umm' feeling before, so we want to empower young people to better understand their rights and feel confident speaking up when something isn't safe."

Management teams across every industry sector have a duty to foster environments where junior staff feel safe raising concerns without fear of repercussion. When management fails to establish clear reporting pathways, young workers are more likely to stay silent about hazardous equipment, faulty electrical systems, or unsafe working practices rather than risk seeming difficult.

The Scale of the Problem: Claims Data

WorkSafe Victoria statistics show the safety watchdog accepted 2431 claims from workers aged 24 or younger last year. These figures highlight why encouraging young workers to speak up matters so much for reducing preventable injuries across construction, manufacturing, and other high-risk industries.

Industries with significant exposure to hazardous machinery, electrical equipment, and physically demanding tasks tend to report higher claim rates among younger cohorts. Effective management of onboarding, supervision, and safety training remains critical to reversing this trend.

Building on Existing Safety Initiatives

UMM builds on WorkSafe's ongoing 'Unsafe is Always Unacceptable' campaign and will run across social media platforms popular among younger demographics. Similar efforts, such as the new road safety campaign targeting young drivers, reflect a growing recognition that tailored messaging resonates more effectively with this audience than generic workplace safety news.

Organisations looking to strengthen their own approach can reference practical tools like the Young Persons At Work Checklist, which supports management teams in identifying hazards specific to younger, less experienced employees.

Practical Steps for Workplace Management

Management should consider the following actions to encourage young workers to speak up about unsafe conditions:

• Establish clear, low-barrier reporting channels for health and safety concerns
• Provide induction training that explicitly covers OHS rights and responsibilities
• Assign mentors who model speaking up as normal, expected behaviour
• Review equipment and electrical systems regularly, especially where young workers operate machinery
• Recognise and reinforce positive reporting behaviour rather than penalising it

Supporting documentation such as a Young Persons at Work Policy and a corresponding Young Persons at Work Checklist can help management formalise these commitments, ensuring safety expectations remain consistent across every site and shift.

Wider Context: Respect and Safety Campaigns Across Australia

WorkSafe's UMM initiative follows other recent efforts to shift workplace culture, including a campaign urging Victorians to show respect towards workers and a SafeWork SA campaign addressing unsafe practices in construction work. Together, these campaigns signal a national shift toward proactive safety management rather than reactive incident response.

For organisations planning their own awareness activities, resources connected to National Safe Work Month 2025 offer additional guidance on structuring workplace safety services and communications throughout the year.

Key Takeaways

• WorkSafe Victoria's UMM campaign encourages young workers to speak up about unsafe conditions
• 2431 claims were accepted from workers aged 24 or younger last year
• Management plays a central role in creating environments where reporting feels safe
• Practical tools, including checklists and policies, support consistent OHS practices for young workers

Read the original story on the WorkSafe Victoria website.