Ministry of Labour

New and Young workers IndustrialHeightened Enforcement focus - May to August 2010

Ministry of Labour2

New and Young Workers

• There are two focus groups in this focus. The first group is the new young worker 14-24 and the second group is the new older workers >25 that has been on the job less than 6 months or reassigned to a new job.

• Any new hire-permanent or temporary, including supervisors, with or without experience in the industry and any current workers who are assigned new jobs are at increased risk.

Why focus on new and young workers?

Ministry of Labour3

New and Young Workers

• The Institute for Work and Health has identified that any new worker, of any age on the job is up to 4 times more likely to be injured during that month than any other time performing that job. That applies to anytime a worker is “new” to the work they are performing – even if it is a new job with the same employer

Ministry of Labour4

New and Young workers – Focus 2010

• young, new workers aged 14 to 24 years, inclusive, and

• new workers aged 25 and older who had been on the job less than six months or who had been reassigned to a new job.

• Extended coverage no minimum age requirements

New workers included:• Any new hire--permanent or temporary, including supervisors, with or without

experience in your industry • Current workers who are assigned new jobs • Student workers, co-op placements or apprentices • Contractors and/or subcontractors

The new and young worker focus performed throughout Ontario in the service, municipal, farming and logging sectors during May-August 2010 will focus on

Ministry of Labour5

Overall Young Worker Industry Sector TrendsServices, Manufacturing and Construction have consistently represented approximately 70% of all young worker LTIs. Below is an overview of the 2008 trends in these sectors compared to 2007

Data Source: Number of workers based on Statistics Canada estimates since their sectors do not align with WSIB sectors.

Ministry of Labour6

New and Young worker Focus

• Service Sector - Retail, restaurant, tourism, wholesale, vehicle sales and service, office related service

• Manufacturing Sector

• Municipal sector

• Logging Sector- Tree Planters (May2010)

• Extended workplaces - Private Golf courses, amusement devices, landscaping,

• Farming operations - field crops.

Ministry of Labour7

New and Young worker- Small business

• Small Business is defined by the WSIB as those employers with 20 or less workers.

• Small Business represents 80% of the registered employers with the WSIB with approximately 185,000 businesses

• More than 100,000 new businesses are started each year in Ontario, 40% of them by young people 25-34 and 16 per cent by youth under 25. 

• The Services, Transportation and Manufacturing Sectors account for 85% of all Small business in Ontario.

• For many of the young workers the first job experience is in small businesses environment

Ministry of Labour8

New and Young worker- Quick Facts

• The young workers aged 15-24 resulted in a total of 11 fatalities in the industrial program between 2004-2009 and for all programs combined the total was 27 fatalities according to Ministry statistics

• The young workers aged 15-24 resulted in a total of 573 critical injuries between 2004 and 2009 according to ministry statistics.

• According to WSIB during the years of 2003 to 2007:Young workers sustained 43 allowed traumatic fatalities.

• The majority of allowed traumatic fatality claims occurred due to Accidental Falls, Motor Vehicle Traffic Accidents, and Accidents caused by Machinery (WSIB)

• According to WSIB statistics the years 2003 to 2007:Young workers sustained 61,424 allowed lost time claims with workers 15-19 years of age accounting for 30% (18,130) and workers 20-24 years of age accounting for 70% (43,294).

Ministry of Labour9

New and Young worker - Main Areas of Focus for inspectors

1. Training and orientation - Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Sections 25(2)(a), 25(2)(h) training and supervision. Refer to the attached inspector quick reference for other possible orders.

2. Supervision - Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Section 25(2)(a) training and supervision.

3. Minimum age

4. Personal Protective equipment - To provide and wear the appropriate PPE.

5. Guarding - Deal with guarding issues on under Section 24 or section 25, for an industrial establishment or Section 25(2) (h) for extended workplaces

6. Falls - section 51 lifting devices, section 73 ladders, Falls for an industrial establishment or Section 25(2) (h) for extended workplaces

Ministry of Labour10

Ministry of Labour11

New and Young worker -Resources