School’s out for summer and for most Nova Scotian students that means no more pencils, no more books - and back to work. But for nearly 630 young workers last year, heading to work also meant experiencing an injury serious enough to need time off. 

In 2012, nearly 3,500 workers under age 25 were hurt at work.

Injuries from the past year include second degree chemical burns, knee-injuries from falls, and sliced and jammed fingers. 

Keeping a workplace safe is everyone’s responsibility, and when it comes to young workers it is especially important that their parents and supervisors have frequent discussions with them about occupational health and safety.

The Workers’ Compensation Board is encouraging these conversations with its social marketing campaign “Speak Up About Safety.”

“Speak Up About Safety focuses on youth discussing workplace safety with their friends, family and employers,” said WCB VP of Prevention and Service Delivery Shelley Rowan. “Workplace injuries are preventable. When youth know their rights and can recognize risks, they have the confidence to talk about and protect their safety.” 

Ms. Rowan says that one injury can change a life forever and that it’s the responsibility of both employers and parents to talk about workplace safety.  
 “Employers need to take special care to ensure that young workers have proper safety training and equipment. Parents need to talk about safety with their children as they start summer jobs. We all have a role to play in keeping young workers safe this summer.”

The majority of workplace injuries for young workers occur in the hotel, retail, restaurant, fast food, construction and manufacturing sectors - the most popular industries for young workers.  

Joni Roper, the human resources manager at Kyle Shaw Enterprises, which owns and operates several Tim Hortons in Pictou County, says that Speak Up About Safety is an important tool in preparing young workers for the workplace.

“Providing young workers with a quality safety orientation and then ongoing safety training is essential to prevent workplace injuries,” said Ms. Roper. 
“We have to take this one step further and create an approachable, accessible workplace environment where young workers are encouraged to ask questions, ask for safety training and to refuse to perform jobs if they have not been trained to do them safely.”

The Speak Up About Safety campaign will run to the end of the year. 

For more information on young worker safety, visit worksafeforlife.ca/youngworkers.

For more information contact:
Nicole Brooks
Communications Advisor
Workers’ Compensation Board of Nova Scotia
902-491-8110
Nicole.Brooks@wcb.gov.ns.ca