Young Workers Need to Know the Risks

All young workers need to be fully advised of their legal rights to work in a safe environment.
Youth are at a particularly high risk, usually  working part-time jobs with little or no safety training.
Statisitcs confirm that young workers are at the highest risk of accident, injury, or illness on the job.

In Canada in 1997, 62 young workers were killed and 60,800 were injured.

Most injuries happen in the first three months on the job.

Youth workers do have rights - they need to know what these rights are in order to use them:
Under provincial health and safety legislation, they have the following rights:

  to know about health and safety hazards in their workplace
  to participate in health and safety decisions, inspections and training
  to refuse to do work that they have reason to believe is unsafe.


Questions that all young workers need to ask!
When starting a new job, every young worker should inquire:

•   What are the dangers and hazards on the job?

•   Will I get training for the job I'm going to do?

•   Is there protective clothing or equipment that I should be wearing?

•   What are the dangers of the machinery or equipment I'll be using?

•   Are there dangers from any of the chemicals I'll be using?

•   Will I get health and safety training?

•   Who can I talk to about health and safety questions?

•   What are my legal rights under the Health & Safety Act?
  

 
Any of these people can give them this needed information:

•   Their union representative

•   The health and safety committee or health and safety representative

•   Their supervisor

•   Their co-op teacher

•   The Workers Health and Safety Centre can also help with valuable information

Injury causing accidents can happen anywhere at anytime...
In happens when working in retail and grocery stores, fast-food restaurants, manufacturing plants, mining and construction sites, landscaping, warehouses, office environments - there are real dangers in every workplace. Most injuries to young workers do however, still take place in the service industry - places where most young workers tend to start their working life as store clerks, table servers, cooks, cleaners and general help. It's important to remember that despite their youthful energy and physical strength, young workers are definitely not immune to being permanently injured or disfigured on the job.

What all workers, including young workers should do if hurt on the job:

•    Get immediate first aid.

•    Report the injury to your supervisor and union rep.

•    See your own doctor, even if you have already seen a company doctor.

•    If you need medical aid, make sure your supervisor has filed a report with the WSIB or the equivalent Workers Compensation Board in your province.

•    Fill out and return promptly any forms sent to you by the Workers' Compensation Board. 

   If you need help with any of these forms, see your union representative asap. Be sure to keep copies of all  documents.