Young, New and Vulnerable Workers Health and Safety through a - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Protecting Young, New and Vulnerable Workers Health and Safety through a Literacy Lens Helen Chandler & Robin Schooley Young & New Worker Program November 22, 2014 1

What do people need to be successful at work? Money? Opportunity for advancement? A boss they like and trust? A cooperative, caring environment? What about a safe & healthy workplace? 2

What does a safe & healthy workplace look like? 3

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What youth have to say on the subject… 5

Link to 2013 video contest winner “New Kid, Know Kid ” on WorkSafeBC.com http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/YoungWorker/Past-Winners.asp or direct from youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2k4YHHHhK4 6

Overview Why focus on youth and vulnerable workers? What are the real (versus perceived) risk factors? What role does experience play? Education? How does training fit in? What can you do to help your clients stay safe? WorkSafeBC resources BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 7

Why target youth? Greater risk of workplace injury Heightened sense of tragedy when injuries occur Focus may bring long term change in workplace safety culture BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 8

Statistics Injury rate comparison 2008-2012 5.0 4.5 4.0 Estimated Injury Rate 3.5 3.0 2.5 2.0 1.5 1.0 0.5 0.0 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Females 15-24 1.8 1.3 1.2 1.3 1.4 Males 15-24 4.6 3.2 3.0 3.2 3.1 Ages 15-24 3.2 2.2 2.1 2.2 2.2 Overall Injury Rate 3.0 2.3 2.3 2.3 2.3 BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 9

Statistics Young Worker Claims (2008-2012) Public Sector Primary Resources 793 2% 1,337 3% Transportation and Warehousing 1,760 5% Manufacturing Service Sector 4,811 13% 12,771 35% Trade 7,651 21% Construction 7,655 21% BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 10

Statistics Young Worker Serious Injuries (2008-2012) Public Sector 147 2% Primary Resources 420 5% Transportation and Warehousing 503 6% Service Sector 2,600 31% Manufacturing 1,099 13% Trade 1,547 18% Construction 2,104 25% BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 11

BC Statistics – 2012 Facts 4 young workers killed on the job (3 in 2011, 2 in 2010) 6,641 young worker claims Nearly 350,000 young workers employed in BC Approx. 18 young workers injured every day BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 12

Stats…continued Of the genders, injuries to young males comprise 73% of all young worker injuries, compared to 27% for young females. The greatest number of time-loss claims by young workers were due to overexertion, being struck by or against objects, and falls. 13

What are possible risk factors? Personal Job-Related ๏ Hazardous tasks ๏ Inexperience ๏ Gender ๏ Equipment ๏ Physical and Young Worker cognitive maturity Safety ๏ Lack of training Workplace- ๏ Supervision Related

The riskiest factors Personal factors: Sufficient evidence that age, gender and personality are NOT associated with higher injury rates Job/Workplace factors: Sufficient evidence of an increased risk of injury among young workers when . . . Working in certain industries and in occupations with higher number of hazards Perceived work overload Breslin et al (2005) systematic review BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 15

What about experience ? New workers are at a greater risk of injury than their experienced counterparts First time injury claims rates drop for all workers by approximately 50% in the second month on the job, compared with the first month Injury rates decline in a very similar manner for all ages with increasing time on the job, regardless of sex, industry or occupation BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 16

What about education? Injury rates for adolescents and young adults who are not attending school were found to be two to three times higher than for those who are attending school These differences were not explained by differences in age or job type Findings suggest that in addition to school-based educational programs, there is a need for workplace initiatives BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 17

What about “newness”? New to labour market New to job New to Canada New firms BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 18

What about “vulnerable” workers? In addition to being at higher risk for injury, they may: Have persistently low wages Lack of stable employment Lack of opportunity or resources to upgrade skills Work in various situations Not qualify for EI or pension or lack benefits Not fall under collective agreements BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 19

Problems with “vulnerable” Term itself implies may imply “victim” It is a label, and in general individuals and cultural groups do not like being labeled It is subjective, rather than objective In general people don’t like the term, but when challenged to come up with an alternative, can’t BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 20

The continuum of some vulnerable factors

Example #1 – A “TFW” from Australia

Example #2 – A mature female farm labourer from India

The more vulnerable factors, the higher the risk Limited or no English skills Different Young or cultural old norms In a three New to job D occupation

What can WorkSafe do to protect young/vulnerable workers? Regulations, enforcement, compliance Programs and initiatives to assist employers Influence within the traditional educational system Outreach to community – including you! BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 25

Orientation and training Only 1 in 5 new employees had received any safety training while with their current employer No evidence that young workers or workers in higher risk occupations were any more likely to receive health and safety training in their first year on the job than other workers (Smith and Mustard 2007 – surveys done in 1999, 2001, 2003) BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 26

BC Regulations 3.22 to 3.25 (effective July 2007) Explicit definition of young and new workers New worker: New to workplace, returning where hazards have changed, affected by change in hazards, or relocated to new workplace with different hazards Young worker: Under 25 BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 27

BC Regulations 3.22 to 3.25 Prescriptive list of topics needing orientation or training “An employer must ensure that before a young or new worker begins work in a workplace, the young or new worker is given health and safety orientation and training specific to that young or new worker's workplace." Rights and responsibilities, PPE, first aid, safe work procedures, hazardous materials, etc. Employees have the right to request additional training Requirement for employer to document orientation and training BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 28

Resources supporting regulations Backgrounder for Employers Sample Orientation Checklist (PDF and “adaptable” Word version) 3 Steps to Effective Worker Education and Training booklet Guidelines (Regulatory Practices) Frequently asked questions site BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 29

What can you do about it? Include a basic understanding of rights and responsibilities into the literacy training you offer. Talk to prospective employers about their safety systems, and their legal obligations around safety BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 30

Some ways you can do it . . . 1/ Peer to peer communication BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 31

Speakers Network Hear it straight from our speakers BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 32

Real life stories – real life impact Lost Youth Josh Dueck, Curtis Zanussi videos BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 33

Through a youth’s lens Student safety videos Close to 300 submissions since 2006 BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 34

Link to 2013 video contest runner- up “Chris” on WorkSafeBC.com http://www2.worksafebc.com/Topics/YoungWorker/Past-Winners.asp or direct from youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qB2H69EZYE 35

2/ Visually creative resources BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 36

Comic style posters Series of construction and forestry workers scenarios BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 37

Videos • Link to video “Standing on the Edge” http://www2.worksafebc.com/Publications/Multimedia/Videos.asp?ReportID=37166 38

3/ Empower with knowledge BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 39

Employers’ Responsibilities Provide a safe workplace Provide orientation, training, supervision (it’s the law) Correct unsafe conditions Provide Personal Protective Equipment (as per regulations) Set a good safety example

Worker Responsibilities Follow safe work procedures Report unsafe acts Correct & report unsafe conditions Know that you have a right to refuse “unsafe work” Report any injuries Set a good safety example

Be a Survivor magazine Getting a Job? brochure BC’s New and Young Worker Programs 42

Exposure awareness Handouts for young workers, employers and teachers 43