TORONTO, Ont. — Parachute, a Toronto-based national charity helping Canadians keep preventable injuries at bay, has launched a province-wide social-media campaign to educate youth about workplace safety. As many students take on summer jobs during this time of the year, #Safe4Life offers a virtual space where youth can ask questions and discuss their experiences with workplace safety. According to a statement from the organization issued on June 21, new and young workers in the province are three times more likely to be injured. A poll, which includes 500 young workers, finds that nearly half of them aged 16 to 19 admit they would be embarrassed to ask about workplace safety hazards, and nearly one quarter of young people say they do not understand worker rights. More than half of young people who currently work, or have worked before say they were not given safety equipment. Among those who were properly equipped, only 35 per cent use it most of the time. “Every day in Ontario, an average of 20 workers under the age of 25 sustain lost-time injuries or are, unfortunately, killed on the job. New workers are more likely to be injured and less likely to question safety practices in their workplaces,” said Louise Logan, president and chief executive officer of Parachute. “We want to change the conversation and encourage young workers to stay #Safe4Life.”