New and young workers in Ontario are four times more likely to be injured during the first month of employment than at any other time. There are several reasons why new and young workers are particularly at risk.
- They lack the experience and training to recognize and avoid hazards.
- They don't know their rights.
- They aren't properly supervised.
- They haven't received adequate orientation.
Employers are responsible for ensuring that the workplace is healthy and safe and that workers are provided with the information, instruction, and supervision they need to protect themselves against potential hazards. This is especially important when dealing with new and young wokers.
Young Worker vs. New Worker
A young worker is defined by Statistics Canada as a person 15 to 24 years of age. Every day in Ontario, an average of nearly 50 young workers under age 25 are injured or killed on the job.
A new worker is a person 25 years or older who has been on the job less than six months or has been reassigned to a new job. New workers can include
- any new hire, either permanent or temporary, including supervisors, with or without experience in the industry where they are working
- current workers who are assigned new jobs
- student workers, co-op placements or apprentices.
Resources
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Safety tips for young workers. |
Safety tips for parents of young workers. |
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Safety tips for supervisors of young workers. |
Safety tips for employers of young workers. |
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A fact sheet about new and young workers. |
A poster for new and young workers. |
Products
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B045 – Contractor's ToolkitThe Contractor's Toolkit can help firms develop or improve their health and safety progam. It contains resources to help you comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Construction Regulations as well as Ministry of Labour audits and inspections. Revised August 2012. |
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M069 – Demolition Health and Safety ManualYour guide to health and safety for demolition work. This manual covers everything from getting the contract, to preparing for the job, to working on the site. |
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B016 – Handbook for Construction Traffic Control PersonsThis pocket-sized handbook includes a proof of training card on the back cover. Topics include: objectives and requirements of a traffic control person, equipment needed, safety tips, preparations and checklists, rights and regulations. 3˝” x 5˝”. 20 pages. 2010 edition. |
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P001 – Help New Workers Start Right PosterThis poster reminds people to help new workers be safe by explaining and demonstrating how to do the job safely and supervising their progress. 8 ˝” x 11” poster. Revised May 2011. |
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IHSAV131 – IHSA Magazine Vol.13 Issue 1Volume 13, Issue 1 of our magazine includes articles on: Safety Talk Falling-object hazards, Protecting Young Workers, Spring Start-up, Wind turbines, and more. |
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IHSA011 – Keep Your Promise PosterThis poster promotes safe workplaces by illustrating the hardship and tragedy a work-related death leaves for friends and family through the stark imagery of a child who has lost a parent. 17 " x 22". |
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FD043 – New on the Job DVDUse this in your new worker orientation program. Focuses on personal protective equipment, hazard awareness and responsibilities. Produced in 1997. 10 minutes. Also available in French (Ask for F043-F). |
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B038 – Young Workers: Special IssueThis special issue of Construction Safety magazine focuses on young workers: why they're more at risk for accidents and how to help protect them. 8 pages. |
Articles
- Vulnerable workers
- Hiring young workers and traffic control
- Protecting Young Workers (IHSA Magazine, Vol 13, Issue 1)
Safety Talks
Web Resources
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The official website of the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MOL) for young and new workers. Find out how to be safe at work. |
Provides workers 24 years and younger with important health & safety info. Prepares workers for the Passport to Safety program. |
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Young Worker Awareness Program
Trained instructors will come to any Ontario high school to give students the info they need to protect their health & safety on the job. |
This page on the Ontario MOL website will give new and young workers access to the info they need to protect their health & safety and understand their rights. |
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Successful participants are awarded a "transcript" that can be attached to resumés to demonstrate their basic awareness of health and safety. |
Canada-wide safety gateway hosted by Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Get the information and tools you need in order to venture into the work world on a safe footing. |
