Abstract
The aims of this study were to determine the incidence of occupational injury by industry and occupation, describe the nature and circumstances of serious occupational injury, and describe work-related safety practices in a cohort of young New Zealand adults. The participants of this study were members of the Dunedin Multidisciplinary Health and Development Study. Injury rates varied by gender, full/part-time work status, experience, occupation and industry. Approximately 30% of the young adults who stated that they needed protective equipment had none available to them. The results suggest that the performance of employers in the provision of a safe work environment for young employees needs to be reviewed.