Keeping new and young workers safe on the job

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A young construction worker was killed when she was hit by a car; a young worker fell to his death through a store's drop ceiling; and another suffered a punctured lung, spinal fracture and concussion when he collided with the tow line lifting device while testing a run at a ski hill. In 2009, 35 young people between the ages of 15 and 24 died in Canada from work-related injuries or illnesses. Another 33,836 were injured severely enough to be granted workers compensation.

Young and new workers are particularly vulnerable to workplace injury or illness, many of the injuries occurring in the first month on the job. The reasons vary. These workers may not fully understand, or be confident about their rights as workers. Eager to impress and accept new challenges, new workers may readily accept risky assignments for which they are not fully prepared and be reluctant to ask questions. They often lack training and experience and may not understand the hazards in the workplace.

The bottom line: anyone who lacks experience and training is at particular risk of getting injured.

What employers can do
Ensuring the safety and health of young and new workers starts with having a good health and safety management system that protects everyone. As an employer you must ensure that safety measures and procedures are in place and followed, to protect all workers. You must ensure equipment, materials and protective devices comply with health and safety laws, and that young workers are trained on - and use - these protective measures at all times.

Click here to read the complete article supplied by Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety