The ASSE recently launched a new interactive online safety game designed to help young workers learn how to protect themselves against the many dangers that face them in the service industry.

Don’t Be a Zombie at Work is about a mysterious business whose employees are becoming zombies. To restore the zombie employees to their former healthy selves, players must move through various worksites – a restaurant, a warehouse and office – identifying and resolving workplace hazards. When stumped, players can call on a team of safety and health professionals for clues.

According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), every year, approximately 230,000 teens are hurt at work, with the majority of these injuries occurring in the retail or service industries.

NIOSH also reports that in 2007, 77,000 teens were injured seriously enough to require a visit to an emergency room. In that same year, 117 teens - all under the age of 18 - died from work-related injuries.

The free game was developed by ASSE members and can be accessed here: http://www.dontbeazombieatwork.org.