The Emerging Workforce of International University Student Workers: Injury Experience in an Australian University

Abstract

International university students are a growing section of the workforce and are thought to be at greater risk of injury. Qualitative studies have highlighted vulnerabilities, but there is a shortage of quantitative research exploring the injury experience and associated risk factors of this emerging issue. In this study, a total of 466 university student workers across a range of study programs in a single Australian university completed an online survey, with questions relating to their background, working experience, training and injury experience. Risk factors for injury were explored in a multivariate statistical model. More than half had not received any safety training before they started work, and 10% reported having had a work injury. About half of these injuries occurred after training. Statistically significant risk factors for injury included working more than 20 h per week (adjusted odds ratio 2.20 (95% CI 1.03–4.71) and lack of confidence in discussing safety issues (AOR 2.17; 95% CI 1.13–4.16). The findings suggest the need for a more engaging and effective approach to safety education and a limit on working hours. This situation is a moral challenge for universities, in that they are effectively sponsoring young workers in the community. It is recommended that longitudinal studies of international student workers be conducted.

A Systematic Literature Review on Leadership Practices for Safety in the Education Sector

“…Hossain et al [19] found that formal training and encouragement are equally important in leadership. Accidents in the workplace are caused by a lack of safety training, a failure to practice learnt safety instruction, and a lack of confidence in discussing safety issues such as reporting dangers, injuries, or symptoms [8]. As a result, leaders should conduct training on a regular and ongoing basis, especially in the presence of new methods and equipment [18,55,[57][58][59].…”

“…According to Guerin et al [6], an estimated 3.2 million non-fatal injuries occurred among young workers (aged 15-24 years) during 2012-2018. This matter is due to their limits in applying what they learn, a lack of experience, and a lack of confidence in discussing safety issues such as reporting hazards, injuries, or symptoms [7,8].…”

Correlates of Work-Study Conflict among International Students in Australia: A Multivariate Analysis

“…International students can be characterized as young migrant workers [5]. As such, they frequently undertake jobs in the workplace that rank low in terms of employment status and skills [6,7].…”

Emerging Issues in Occupational Safety and Health

“…To identify factors affecting the risk-taking behaviour of workers, several studies have investigated the reasons why they conduct such behaviour [8,9,10,11,12,13]. Factors influencing the risk-taking propensity of workers include safety supervision and inspection, safety culture of working environments, social influence, workplace conditions, attitude of workers towards risk, risk perception, and self-perceived easiness of risk-taking behaviour [8,9].…”

“…Tong et al [12] explore human risk factors affecting risk-taking behaviour through coal mining roof accidents in China; such factors include knowledge, information, communication, and performance and behaviour of senior managers. Thamrin et al [13] identify inadequate safety training, long working hours (more than 20 h per week), and insufficient confidence on the discussion of safety issues as the main factors resulting in injuries. Therefore, the awareness and consciousness on occupational safety and health should be enhanced by improving these identified areas to avoid performing unsafe behaviour that will adversely affect the physical and mental health of workers.…”