A 50 percent increase in young worker deaths in 2007 has led to a call for students taking on seasonal jobs to speak out against safety shy bosses.

Onrec reports the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL) claims the age group with the highest rate of all workplace injuries is 16 to 24-year-olds.

Chief executive of national campaigning organisation, Denise Kitchener, said: "More than 17,000 young workers were injured over the past year – that’s one young worker injured every half an hour."

"We are particularly concerned about the one million students who take on part time jobs to fund their studies. With Christmas around the corner, this number is likely to rise and it is imperative that youngsters speak out if they are concerned about a safety issue at work."

Solicitor and APIL member David Urpeth has seen first hand the devastating consequences poor safety can have upon someone’s life, after he dealt with a case in which a young worker lost three fingers.

"This young man was working for a packaging company and was asked to cut some cardboard sheets,” explained David. “He was shown only once how to use the machine, and then left to his own devices. He had been told that every piece of cardboard wasted was money to the business, so was trying to cut them as small as possible. His hand was drawn into the machine and his fingers were severed beyond repair.”

APIL says all young workers should be vigilant, and should not be afraid to question any task they are asked to perform if they feel their safety is at risk.

"Many people are afraid to speak out even if they feel their safety is at risk,” added Denise. “They may worry about losing their jobs or getting into trouble with the boss, but they have a right to go to work and be safe. The figures suggest that many employers are turning a blind eye to safety, so it is imperative that people stand their ground if all is not well."