New Worker Safety in Canada
Age
- Age 9 – Young person takes part in volunteer work
- Age 14 – Person gets first job and enters workforce
- Age 16-20 – Student begins coop position or internship
- Age24 – Student gets new job after finishing school
- Age 31 – Experienced worker is assigned new tasks
- Age 38 – Worker changes career path and takes new job
- Age 43 – Person enters/returns to workforce after raising children
- Age 49 – Worker is transferred to new location
- Age 56 – Worker has new equipment and new processes introduced
- Age 962 – Worker returns to workforce following retirement
- Age 67 – Retired worker takes on volunteer position
Note: Although not always covered under the Health and Safety Act, organizations may still have responsibilities regarding the health and safety of volunteers. Consult with your jurisdiction.
NEW is NEW – regardless of age
Know Your RIGHTS
- The right to know what hazards are present on the job and how to protect yourself.
- The right to participate in keeping your workplace healthy and safe, and a right to report unsafe conditions and practices.
- The right to refuse dangerous work, making sure to follow specific procedures when doing so.
Breaking it down by age group, the risk of a lost-time injury is HIGHEST among new workers
- OVER 45 years of age
- ALL WORKERS,
regardless of age,
have 5 to 7 times
the risk of injury
in the first month
on the job.
- 21%
- Just one in five workers in Canada received safety training in their first year with a new employer.
What can WORKERS do?
- KEEP an eye out at your interview for signs that the employer takes safety seriously. Look for warning signs in hazardous areas, employees wearing protective equipment, safety posters, etc.
- ASK experienced employees and/or your supervisor about safety hazards.
- KNOW what to do in an emergency situation, whether it is a fire alarm, power failure or other situation.
- ASK for a copy of the safety rules, if you aren't given one.
- FOLLOW all safety precautions.
- REPORT any accidents or unsafe conditions to your supervisor immediately.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE OF ANYTHING
- ASK your employer to go over any procedures or practices you are unsure of. Have them watch you perform tasks to make sure you are doing them correctly.
- KNOW how to wear your personal protective equipment (PPE) properly.
MALES have almost 2x the risk of being injured on the job as females.
WHY?
This is partially due to:
- higher risk jobs, or
- jobs with a higher degree of physical effort.
What can EMPLOYERS do?
- BE A SAFETY LEADER
- DEVELOP a comprehensive health and safety program with clear and measurable goals.
- PROVIDE opportunities for employees to participate in making the workplace safer.
- IDENTIFY and CORRECT hazards, and
- EVALUATE your safety program to ensure continuous improvement and success.
- ASSIGN suitable work. Avoid assigning jobs to new workers that require:
- long training times,
- a great deal of responsibility,
- critical or risky tasks,
- working alone.
- TELL workers not to perform any task until they have been properly trained.
- PROVIDE detailed training on equipment, safety features, and control systems.
- COMMUNICATE with the new worker about the job tasks clearly and frequently, repeating and confirming this training over the first few weeks of work.
- ENCOURAGE workers to think in a safety-minded way about all of their work. Tell workers that if they don’t know or are unsure about something, to ask someone first.
- TRAIN workers on what do in in case of fire, injury, or other emergency.
TIMELY, EFFECTIVE TRAINING is ESSENTIAL
Learning on the job, or waiting several months for a classroom course are NOT good options.
- EFFECTIVE TRAINING METHODS include:
- HANDS-ON (without being in the actual workplace)
- MENTORING by experienced workers
- APPRENTICE programs
- WRITTEN PROCEDURES
that are short, clear, concise
- PRACTICE time and opportunity
- ACTIVE VOICE with clear instructions
- GROUP equipment or tasks with similar functions
- REAL-WORK CONTEXT
Statistical Sources:
- [1] Institute for Work and Health (IWH 2012)
- [2] Institute for Work and Health (IWH 2003)
- [3] Smith P, Mustard C. How many employees receive safety training during their first year of a new job? Injury Prevention, 2007; 13:37-41
http://www.iwh.on.ca/highlights/only-one-in-five-new-workers-receive-safety-training-in-canada
- [4] Institute for Work and Health (IWH 2003 and 2009)