Ontario’s Ministry of Labour (MOL) is conducting a summer blitz targeting new and young workers. From May 1 to August 31, inspections will take place on industrial sector workplaces where new and young workers are employed across the province, the Ministry announced in a statement on May 13.

“Workplace incidents continue to kill and critically injure new and young workers, and that is simply unacceptable. Our sons and daughters deserve to come home safe after a hard day’s work,” Minister of Labour Kevin Flynn said in the statement. “That’s why we’re committed to eliminating workplace tragedies by ensuring all workers know their rights and responsibilities and employers across the province are following the rules.”

The blitz pertains to young workers aged 14 to 24, as well as to new workers who are on the job for less than six months or assigned to a new job, including workers aged 25 and older. The MOL defines new workers as:

• Any new hire, either permanent or temporary, including supervisors, with or without experience in the industry where they are working;
• Workers who are assigned new jobs in the same workplace in which they previously performed other work;
• Student workers, co-op placement students or apprentices;
• Unpaid secondary school students who are participating in a work experience program authorized by their school board;
• Other unpaid learners participating in a program approved by a post-secondary institution; and
• Unpaid trainees who are not employees for the purposes of the Employment Standards Act, 2000, but who are covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Inspections will take place in the following industrial sectors: farming; agricultural services; tourism, hospitality and recreation; retail; vehicle sales and service; wholesale; automotive; food, beverage and tobacco; and sawmills and logging. Inspectors will be checking that new and young workers are properly informed, instructed and supervised on the job, that they meet minimum age requirements and that they are following required safety measures and procedures to prevent injuries.

Many young workers who receive lost-time injuries are employed as labourers in processing, manufacturing and utilities as well as food counter attendants and kitchen helpers, the MOL said in the statement.

“New and young workers are three times more likely to be injured during their first month of work than at any other time,” said Chief Prevention Officer George Gritziotis in the statement. “We must all work together to improve health and safety and prevent injuries and deaths of these workers at Ontario workplaces. This includes government, employers, supervisors, workers and our health and safety partners.”

Between 2009 and 2013, 30 young workers between the ages of 15 to 24 died in work-related incidents and more than 30,000 received lost-time injuries, notes the Ministry.

More information on young worker safety can be found on the Ministry’s website at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/atwork/youngworkers.php.