Ontario Making Summer Jobs Safe For Young Workers

Toronto - The McGuinty government and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) have partnered to make sure that every student in Ontario gets the information they need to keep themselves safe in the workplace this summer thanks to the Young Worker Tip Sheets program, Labour Minister Steve Peters announced recently.

"Statistics show that workplace injuries to new and young workers are four times more likely to occur during their first month of employment than at any other time," said Peters. "The tip sheets for students will ensure our young people know how to protect themselves, know how to recognize unsafe situations, and know they can say no to unsafe work."

The tip sheet, "Protecting Yourself - Tips for Young Workers," is being distributed to every Ontario student from grades 7 to 12 — over one million in number — in time for summer and seasonal jobs.

"The health and safety of Ontario's students is paramount — whether they're learning in school or earning in a workplace," said Minister of Education Kathleen Wynne. "That's why we've already done a number of things to make our schools safer, and I'm sure these new tip sheets will help make Ontario's students safer in their summer jobs."

The tip sheets were printed by the WSIB, and distributed by the Ministry of Education, both long time young worker health and safety partners with the Ministry of Labour.

"Last year more than 13,000 workers between 15 and 24 were injured in the workplace seriously enough to miss work, and 10 young lives were cut short due to workplace incidents — that is unacceptable to me," said Steven Mahoney, WSIB Chair. "The tip sheet is another way to reach young workers and get our health and safety message to them. Along with the young worker campaign launched last month and websites like www.prevent-it.ca, we are sending the message that workplace injuries and illnesses are unacceptable and we are arming young workers with the tools to prevent them."

"The McGuinty government's workplace health and safety strategy continues to produce dramatic results by preventing the human cost of workplace injuries and avoiding costs for businesses," said Peters.

Keeping Young Workers Safe
The McGuinty government is committed to eliminating young worker injury, illness and death by creating healthier and safer workplaces, informing young workers and developing strategies and partnerships to improve health and safety performance.

Key Partnerships and Initiatives

• The government provides free workplace health and safety resources for teachers under the Live Safe! Work Smart! banner.
• The Employment Standards Act poster was revised in 2006 to direct individuals to a new Young Workers Internet Portal on the Ministry of Labour's website.
• The Minister's Action Group on Vulnerable Workers Under the Age of 25 is providing recommendations on how to reach young workers who are outside the educational system.
• www.WorkSmartOntario.gov.on.ca, the ministry's innovative and "youth friendly" website provides Ontario's young workers with the information they need to be safe at work.
• Several young worker safety 'tip sheets' have been produced and distributed by the Ministry of Labour and its partners since 2004, as well as the distribution to over one million grade 7 to 12 students in the province of the tip sheet "Protecting Yourself - Tips for Young Workers".
• Young Worker Health and Safety information kits were distributed to all MPPs in the province in May of 2007.

Working Youth

• The percentage of youth under the age of 25 working in Ontario rose from 54.1 per cent in 1995, to 57.2 per cent in 2004. Many youth work in small businesses. Of the 906,400 youth employed in Ontario in 2004, 41 per cent were employed in businesses with fewer than 20 employees.
• Young workers balance part-time work and school. 82 per cent of youth working part-time in 2004 were also attending school.
• Youth are more likely to be contingent workers (seasonal, contract, or casual) than workers aged 25 years and older. 23 per cent of young workers have temporary jobs, while only eight per cent of older workers are engaged in this work.
• Youth tend to change jobs more frequently than older workers. In 2004, 52 per cent of young workers and 14 per cent of older workers in Ontario started work with a new employer.

SOURCE: Office of the Premier and WSIB