CANADA Nova Scotia Summer Job Safety Message for Youth

The government of Nova Scotia is sending a safety message to employers, parents, and students as young people wrap up school terms and begin summer jobs during vacation, according to information from the Canadian OH&S News.

 

 

Last year, 3,665 young workers under 25 years of age reported claims to the Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Nova Scotia.(WCxKit)

 

 

"Parents or guardians play a very important role in keeping young workers safe," said WCB spokeswoman Joanne Elliott in Halifax. "They should have a conversation with young workers that encourages them to approach safety in the workplace."

 

 

Data from Statistic Canada's 2006 Census indicates that retail salespersons, cashiers, food counter attendants or kitchen helpers, and customer service, information and related clerks are the jobs most commonly undertaken by Nova Scotians aged 15 to 24.

 

 

Information from the WCB indicates that injuries peak during summer months. This peak is particularly evident for young workers. Almost 300 time-loss claims in 2010 occurred in May through August, nearly half of all young worker time-loss injuries. July and August report the highest claims among young workers as students venture into summer employment.

 

 

Parents or guardians should not assume that their kids work in safe environments, have received proper training, or that they will voice their concerns to employers, Elliott said. "When they are hired, find out as much as possible about their jobs," she advised, citing research that shows young and new workers are five times more likely to be hurt in the first month than workers who have been in their current jobs for more than a year.

 

 

Specific questions relating to the work they do, the training and information they have received, who their supervisor is and what instructions they provide, can help parents assess whether or not the job poses a risk to these young workers, says Labor and Advanced Education spokesman Brian Taylor in Halifax.(WCxKit)

 

 

"If the answers that parents get to the previous questions raise issues, they should be explored further," Taylor added. "Information and level of supervision are two important issues that should never be taken for granted."