Every year, about 50 young Canadians are killed on the job and about 60,000 more suffer injuries serious enough to be reported to safety officials. Young workers are six times more likely to be killed or have a workplace injury than any other group. About 95 percent of those affected workers are men. This means that 1 in 11 young men can expect to suffer a workplace injury. Typically, these young men are employed at small manufacturing businesses, fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, and warehouses. The accidents usually happen within the first six months on the job. These young men lose fingers while slicing meat at the deli counter, are crushed by equipment they do not know how to operate, are electrocuted on metal ladders that touch hydro poles, or are burned handling chemicals with no protective equipment. The top five causes of injuries to young workers are slips and falls, overexertion, being struck by an object, exposure to toxic chemicals, and burns. Young workers are more likely to be injured during the first six months on the job because they are not familiar with the work, they are often given tedious and dangerous work that others do not want to do, they may be eager to impress their new supervisors, and they are not aware of their rights.

Fewer than half receive any job training. Only about 30 percent of teenagers receive instruction on first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in their safety training, and most learn nothing about the law, their rights, hazards on the job, or safety management. Young workers are especially vulnerable because they feel invincible and lack experience. They believe the following myths:

• I can take risks; I won’t die. 

• I can handle anything; I am young and fit.

• Nothing will happen to me; I am safe at work.

• I must do any job my employer tells me to do.

• I am not responsible for workplace safety; that is my employer’s responsibility. 

Most will not ask for safety training because they are unaware of risks or are fearful of losing their jobs. 

Many provinces, recognizing these risks, have added health and safety training to the high school curriculum. Most such programs discuss workplace hazards, employer rights and responsibilities, health and safety laws, and the workers’ right of refusal. Alberta has the most advanced training course for young workers in Canada: Job Safety Skills, which consists of 75 hours of instruction, divided into three modules:

• Personal safety management (first aid, back care, safety, and the law) 

• workplace safety practices (ergonomics, confined space entry, transportation of dangerous goods, and farm safety)

• Safety management systems (loss control, accident investigation, and a mock workshop in which students develop an entire safety program) 

Questions

1. Why are there more workplace injuries among those aged 16 to 25?

2. By law, workplace safety is the responsibility of the employer and employee. Why have nearly all provinces created courses in occupational health and safety as part of the high school curriculum? Should these be mandatory courses or electives?

3. Check the website of the Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (http://www.wsps.ca), which has excellent information on occupational health and safety training programs. Design a training program that an employer could provide to young workers.