Safety Starts at Home
More than 30,000 young workers in Canada are injured at work each year. Parents and
guardians have a responsibility to prepare them for work even before they get their
first job. Staying involved is key to ensuring their health and safety at work.
Did you know?
- Young workers are often at greater risk for workplace incidents because they do not have the same level of experience as other workers.
- Occupational health and safety laws across Canada require employers to provide health and safety training to all workers.
- Parents and guardians play an important role in making sure young workers come home safely at the end of each workday.
Before starting work
- Discuss workplace health and safety. Talk to young workers about the importance of health and safety and their rights as workers. These resources can help you understand the basics so you can support them.
- Ask about training requirements. Make sure they complete the necessary training to perform their job safely.
- Encourage
questions. Help them prepare questions to ask their
employer.
-
What health and safety training and orientation will I receive?
-
What are the workplace rules around health and safety?
-
What personal protective equipment will I need?
-
Once work starts
- Confirm safety
measures.
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Their supervisor provides regular health and safety feedback.
-
They have been trained to safely perform their tasks.
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They know how to handle potential workplace hazards like working near machinery or or lifting heavy objects.
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They understand WHMIS training and know how to use safety data sheets and read product labels.
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- Monitor work-life balance. Make sure young workers get enough rest to prevent fatigue, maintain focus and, if needed, take other steps that support positive mental health and wellness.
Be a role model
- Demonstrate safe
practices.
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Use personal protective equipment (PPE) at home, for example, gloves, goggles and hearing protection.
-
Follow proper procedures for tasks like mowing the lawn or handling chemicals.
-
Encourage confidence
- Build communication
skills. Practise scenarios to make sure
young
workers know how to:
-
report a hazard, including psychological hazards such as harassment and bullying
-
ask for more training
-
speak up about health and safety concerns without fear
-
Remember to regularly touch base with
your young worker.
Key messages
- Safety is a shared responsibility. Workplace health and safety involves everyone.
- All workers have
rights, including:
-
the right to refuse tasks they believe are dangerous without fear of reprisal
-
the right to know about workplace hazards and to receive proper training
-
the right to participate in health and safety discussions and activities related to their job
-
- Speak up about concerns. Reassure young workers it’s okay to bring up health and safety issues and they are protected from reprisals.
More resources
Here are
some more
resources to
help
young
workers stay
healthy and safe at work
- Young and new workers, WorkSafeBC
- Young worker safety, Government of Alberta
- Youth, WorkSafe Saskatchewan
- Young workers, SAFE Work Manitoba
- Health and safety resources for young workers, Workers Health and Safety Centre (Ontario)
- Jeunes au travail, Commission des normes de l'équité de la santé et de la sécurité du travail
- Young and new workers, WorkSafeNB
- Young workers, Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I.
- Young workers resources, Government of Nova Scotia
- For young workers, Worker’s Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
- Young workers, WorkplaceNL
- Young and new workers, Worker’s Compensation Board Yukon
- Young workers,
Share these tips on how to stay healthy and safe at
work
Safety starts at home Infographics
Adapted to print on 8.5” x 11” paper
[PDF, 0.99 MB]