Press Release
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| 01 August, 2007 | |
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Protecting Vulnerable Youth in the Workplace _________________________________________________________________________ The recently released Ministry of Labour (MOL) report, by The Minister’s Action Group on Vulnerable Youth, presented an in-depth look at work safety for youth, making key recommendations to helping protect the safety of vulnerable young people in the workplace. By definition, The Minister’s Action Group states that “vulnerable youth” are those under the age of 25 who are out of the school system and in the labour market and are therefore vulnerable to workplace injuries. The May 2007 report suggests that while many sectors are experiencing a decrease in injuries to young workers, it is clear that a number of sectors, including construction, still require improvement. However, the Ministry of Labour with The Minister’s Action Group on Vulnerable Youth are making positive strides in work-safety awareness, and increasing their pro-active efforts in work-safety standards for youth. Both groups are taking positive steps in recommending and advocating non-regulatory approaches that will provide practical solutions for preventing work place injuries. In July 2006, The Minister’s Action Group on Vulnerable Youth was formed as a direct response to possibly increasing risks of lost-time injuries suffered by youth on jobsites, and as response to a `need’ to improve safety in workplaces that employ youth. The action group’s task was to examine the unique sub-set of young workers between the ages of 15 to 24 and propose practical solutions and preventative interventions of injury reduction to the MOL in consultation and collaboration with partners, including the Ministry of Education, the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), Occupational Health and Safety Council of Ontario (OHSCO) members and other government and non-governmental agencies. The action group membership, itself, includes youth from the target age group, youth culture experts, youth labour market experts, youth safety practitioners and business representatives. But what makes youth “vulnerable” and “at risk” for injury in the work place? The MOL report offers several reasons and possibilities. Some notes of highlight, are the fact that many youth are employed for low and unstable wages which may often result in their premature placement in unsafe work conditions. As well, work in various situations: perhaps self-employed, working in the `underground economy’, working for family, present areas of risk to legal protection and work-benefits. Furthermore, many youth (in general) take on risky job positions, during high-school or upon finishing school, out of pure necessity for work & income. This can open up the possibility of an exploitation of their eagerness to work, and to work hard. Lack of opportunity, and/or resources to upgrade their skills are also cited in the report. “Vulnerable” youth, as defined by MOL report, seem to be especially vulnerable in the construction sector. According to the report, WSIB data shows that between 2000 and 2005 in the construction sector there has been a 71 per cent increase in lost-time injuries among workers 18 years-of-age and younger, a 40 per cent increase amongst 19 year olds, and a 50 per cent increase for 20-24-year olds. A possible explanation for the disproportionate increase in lost-time injuries in the construction industry may be partially explained by the strong surge in construction activity between 2000 and 2005, especially in the residential sector. The boom in construction between 2000 and 2005, translated to an addition of over 50,000 new registered construction jobs to the industry over same period. This influx of new and returning workers opened up the heightened possibility of rushed methods and created a shortfall of resources required for quality work place skills & safety training. Moreover, the existence of large unregulated segments of the construction sector and an ever-increasing `underground economy’, made the enforcement of health and safety regulations increasingly difficult. One of Action Group’s first recommendations was to make sure that vulnerable youth have the right information and resources they need to recognize unsafe situations, and as well have the confidence to say “no” to unsafe work. This recommendation has been taken pro-actively by the Ministry of Education, who has implemented an increase in the importance of work-safety knowledge being taught earlier on in the education system. Also, work standards and safety knowledge have been made more readily accessible to youth in schools. The recommendations of the report tend to echo what is in many aspects already standard practice in the unionized construction sector. The right to say “no” to unsafe work was, after all, one of the driving forces for the unionization of the industry. The dedication to a culture of safety among workers and employers continues to be bred into all new apprentices entering the trades through enforced, skilled and hard-practiced methods of work safety training that begin on day one. A large portion of the millions of dollars invested by the unionized industry in training and safety goes directly to fund health and safety courses at locals across Ontario. These courses are designed to keep existing workers up to date with safety regulations and to supplement apprenticeship training when administered outside the union environment. The OCS is currently collecting detailed data for a study into union administered training in Ontario. In conjunction, we are also studying WSIB lost-time injury data in selected trades of the construction industry. We are confident that the findings of both studies will reinforce, and demonstrate the unionized sector’s strong commitment to work place safety and investment in quality training. OCS Further information about the Minister’s Action Group and the final report can be found at: http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/site/youngworkers/yag_report.html |
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