Young Workers in the Workplace – Critical Advice for Employers and Parents

Help Them Experience Their First Job without Death or Injury

by Bernadette Smith, Owner of In House Human Resources

Now that spring is finally here, it is time to remember that many young workers are again entering the workplace. Maybe it is a summer job or they are taking on a first full time job after finishing school. Whatever the case, their first few days on the job place them in danger and make them extremely vulnerable to workplace accidents. In the rush and excitement to get that first job, young people are often eager to please and can be unsure of their rights. The category of young worker is defined as those workers in the 15 to 24 age group. In Ontario, 36 young workers are injured, made ill, or killed on the job every day. (Source: WSIB; Young Worker Awareness Program.) But getting a first full or part-time job shouldn't also come with the possibility of injury or death. As an employer, you need to be prepared before your young workers arrive. To ensure that all workers' safety is a priority in your workplace, have and maintain a workplace safety training program. Within the program have a section specifically targeted at new and young workers. If this sounds like too much work, employers can get help from the experts; in most cases they have done most of the work.

Most provinces in Canada have a young worker safety awareness program. Along with awareness, statistics of injury rates and types for each province are also listed. Knowledge is key not only for the young worker but for the employer in preparation for preventing workplace accidents. A good place to start is the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC).  Along with a vast amount of information, their website features links to every province which has a young worker awareness program. Another good source of information is the National Work Injuries Statistics Program (NWISP). Having statistical information will help the employer think about the types of injuries that could happen in their business or industry. For example, according to Work Safe BC, the seven top dangers for young workers are: lifting objects, working on elevated levels, working with knives, working with hot substances/objects, using mobile equipment or motor vehicles, working with food slicers, and working in close proximity to running equipment or machinery.  As all industries are different and come with their own unique dangers, making a similar list for your business makes good sense. Draw up a list of the top dangers in your workplace and post them in a conspicuous place for all workers to see. Remember awareness is a great first step.

Having an improved safety orientation program is just the start. You need to spend extra time with your young worker to ensure they understand your safety rules and know they have a right to refuse unsafe work. But what does unsafe work mean to a young worker? How will they know that something they are about to attempt could cost them their life even if they have received information on possible dangers? Is it the age of the worker or inexperience? It seems that inexperience and youth is a double edged sword since time on the job should eventually lead to being experienced and time also allows us to age. Too often new workers are placed in front of a computer screen, either alone or in groups, and told to watch a safety presentation. A better way is to have a hands-on presentation where questions can be answered as they arise and comprehension can be measured. When resources are scarce, it is always tempting to go with the electronic babysitter but that should never be the case when lives can be lost. All workers need in-depth safety training but young workers especially need to be counselled and shown how to avoid the potential dangers. As an added prevention adopt a buddy system where all new workers (not just young workers) are paired up with an experienced competent worker. Depending on the complexity of the workplace, this buddy system should last several weeks or months and see the worker graduate to various levels of independence until they are deemed ready to work competently. Yes this system may involve added costs since the new worker will require longer supervision. But think of the alternative. A possible workplace fatality or injury coupled with the long term costs and trauma that go along with an accident.

It is never too early to talk to young people about safety. Most awareness programs have a high school component available. Parents should also get involved by ensuring their young worker has the resources they need to know the risks involved with working. Young workers should be encouraged to insist on safety training and information and be provided with someone they can talk to if something just doesn't feel right. The Prevent-it.ca young workers support hotline is 1-866-Safe-Job.

Let's start today to make this summer the beginning of the end to workplace accidents for all, but especially the most vulnerable, our young workers.

Bernadette Smith CHRP, PMP, is the owner of In House Human Resources, an Ontario provider of employee and safety solutions for small businesses. http://www.inhousehr.ca, Tel. (416) 726-6300.

Links

Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada, http://www.awcbc.org

Prevent-it, http://prevent-it.ca
WorkSafe BC, http://www.worksafebc.com
Young Worker Awareness Program, http://www.ywap.ca

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