Enter the zone for tips for youngworkersMany students are unaware of
the potentially life-threatening hazards present in the workplace.
Statistics show that approximately
800,000 occupational accidents occur in Canada each year. After car accidents,
the leading causes of death among young people are machine injuries and electrocutions.
Between 1994 and 1998, young workers aged between 15 and 24 sustained approximately
16 percent of all time-loss occupational injuries.
Many of these tragedies could
easily have been avoided if a few basic safety rules had been followed, and
if the employer had adequately trained the new employee to recognize potentially
dangerous situations.
Unfortunately, young workers
are often so intent on impressing a potential employer at a job interview that
they often neglect to ask about workplace safety or job training. Many young
workers are unaware of the inherent risks associated with their new job. Some
may claim to understand the safety instructions they are given in order to please
the trainer when in reality they do not.
You can help ensure your own
workplace safety by knowing what to look for when entering a new or different
work situation, and by knowing what questions to ask your potential or present
employer. The Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia encourages young
workers to take the initiative and protect themselves by asking their employer
the following questions:
- What are the dangers of
my job?
- Are there any hazards (noise,
chemicals, radiation) that I should know about?
- Will I receive job safety
training? When?
- Is there any safety gear
that I'll be expected to wear? Will I receive training in how to use it?
- Will I be trained in emergency
procedures (fire, chemical spill?) When?
- Where are fire extinguishers,
first aid kits, and other emergency equipment located?
- What are my health and safety
responsibilities?
- Who do I ask if I have a
safety question?
- Do you have safety meetings?
- What do I do if I get hurt?
Who is the first aid person?
* Worker's Compensation Board
of B.C. Prevention at Work, July/August 1995
To achieve the highest levels
of safety, you must possess KNOWLEDGE about the hazards you encounter, PRACTICAL
SKILLS to avoid them and the MOTIVATION to apply your safety skills and knowledge.
A Few More Practical Tips for
Young Workers
- At your interview, keep
an eye out for signs that the employer takes safety seriously (e.g., warning
signs in hazardous areas, employees wearing protective equipment, safety posters).
- If you aren't given one,
ask for a copy of the safety rules.
- Ask experienced employees,
during training, about safety hazards.
- To find out more information
about a chemical, write down the product name from the label along with the
name of the manufacturer or supplier, then look up the MSDS.
- Learn how to recognize the
WHMIS hazards symbols and know what they mean.
- Know how to wear your personal
protective equipment properly.
- Follow all safety precautions.
- Notify your supervisor if
you experience any symptoms, such as headache, dizziness, irritation in your
throat or eyes, or skin rashes, that might indicate that you are being overexposed
to a chemical.
The ability to recognize potential
hazards in the workplace requires not only common sense but also observation,
learning and experience. REMEMBER: If there is any doubt in your mind as to
the safety of the materials you are handling or the duties of your employment,
you have the right and the responsibility to bring your concerns to your supervisor's
attention. Ultimately, all employees, including students, have the right to
refuse to do work that is unsafe, and employers cannot fire anyone for exercising
this right.
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