Two inspection blitzes and two awareness campaigns will be underway across Ontario this year, as the provincial Ministry of Labour (MOL) is gearing up to promote the safety of young workers.
In a May 27 news release, the MOL stated that it was taking action to protect youths in seasonal, part-time or temporary employment to coincide with the rush for summer jobs. The Ministry is stepping up inspections of workplaces known to employ young workers: the first blitz, which already began on May 2 and lasts until June 30, will determine whether employers in food services, retail and construction are complying with the Employment Standards Act, while the second, from July 18 to Sept. 2, will target the industrial sector to be sure that employers are following the provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act.
The MOL is also providing financial support to two social-media campaigns. One of them, #safe4life, is run by injury-prevention charity Parachute Canada and intends to motivate young workers to share safety ideas online with the hashtag #safe4life, according to a Ministry backgrounder. A new awareness campaign by Workplace Safety & Prevention Services, Bring Safety Home, will target parents, friends, relatives, coaches and teachers of young workers beginning in June. Bring Safety Home will use blogs, videos and social media to drive home the message about keeping youth safe at work.
“Our youth are our future, and as such, we must ensure that we do our utmost to protect them,” provincial Labour Minister Kevin Flynn said in a media statement. “We need to do what we can to make sure that young workers are treated fairly at work and are able to come home safe and sound.”
Ontario Chief Prevention Officer George Gritziotis said in his own statement that employers, supervisors and parents had a responsibility to make young workers aware of their rights and responsibilities. “All injuries at the workplace are preventable,” he noted.
The MOL is also promoting the winners of the annual It’s Your Job video contest for students. This year’s first-prize winner in Ontario, Breakdown from Markville Secondary School in Markham, depicts a student worker who spirals into a meltdown from occupational stress; the film also came in second place in the national contest.
Last year’s provincial winner, Who I’d Still Have by Mississauga’s St. Francis Xavier Secondary School, was later screened to employees of construction firm CRH Canada Group Inc. (COHSN, Aug. 25).
Ontario saw 17 deaths of workers between 15 and 24 years old from 2010 to 2015, and more than 6,000 young workers in the province require time off work following serious injury, according to information from the MOL.