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Young workers FAQs
Are young workers at risk?
Yes. Young workers are at a much higher risk of injury than workers of any other age group. More than half of workplace accidents involving workers aged 15 to 24 occur during the first six months on the job. And almost 20 percent occur during the first month on the job.
Are young workers injured more often than older workers are?
Yes. Young males under the age of 25 are at the highest risk for a workplace injury in B.C.; three out of every four young workers claims are for young males. The injury rate for young male workers is about 33 percent higher than the overall injury rate in B.C. This means one of every 21 working young males is hurt on the job in our province.
Young women are injured on the job much less frequently than young men -- one in 63 young females was injured on the job last year. One reason for the difference is that males are often employed in higher risk jobs and young male workers work on average more hours per week than young female workers.
How frequently are young workers hurt on the job?
- Each hour in B.C. 1 young worker is hurt on the job.
- Each day in B.C., 36 young workers are hurt on the job.
- Every week, five of these workers are permanently injured.
- In 2003, nine young workers were killed in work-related accidents.
For more information go to the statistics page.
What are the top dangers for young workers in the workplace?
We analyzed 47,122 claims of young workers injured on the job between 1998 and 2002 and identified the seven most dangerous tasks. These seven dangers resulted in 34% of the claims and 52% of the serious injuries suffered by young workers during the five-year period.
For more information go to the Top seven dangers page.
In which industry do young workers receive the most injuries?
Restaurants are the number one industry young worker injuries occur in. The second most common industry is supermarkets, followed by general retail.
For more information go to the Industry profiles page.
Why are young workers getting injured on the job?
WorkSafeBC commissioned research designed to explore the underlying attitudes towards young workers and workplace injury among a range of stakeholders including: youth, parents, employers, educators, industry representatives, labour associations, and community and youth groups. The research revealed consistent themes why young workers are injured. These include:
- Inexperience and lack of training
- Lack of confidence or understanding of their rights as workers
- Lack of preparation for the workplace
- Asked to do more dangerous jobs
- Sense of youthful invincibility
- Unwillingness to ask questions
- Distracted - thinking of other things happening in their lives, i.e. homework, socializing, that new car, etc.
- Pace of work
For more information go to the Young worker research page.
Who is responsible for young worker safety?
Anyone involved with youth and young workers has a stake in promoting a safe and healthy work environment. Employers, supervisors, unions, educators, parents, community groups, and young workers must share in the responsibility.
What are the most effective ways to prevent young worker injuries?
WorkSafeBC research among young worker stakeholders raised common themes on ways to prevent young worker injuries. These include:
- Young worker training and orientation to new work sites and new jobs at the same work site
- Health and safety training for supervisors of young workers
- Peer-to-peer training programs for young workers
- More education informing youth, parents, employers, unions, and other key stakeholder groups on the issue of young worker accidents and their rights and responsibilities concerning workplace health and safety.
What is WorkSafeBC doing to prevent young worker injuries?
Based on analysis of the young worker claims and stakeholder research, WorkSafeBC has developed a three-pronged young worker strategy.
Is there a particular age limit in relation to WorkSafeBC coverage?
WorkSafeBC coverage is not limited by age; compensation is provided to anyone who is a "worker" for personal injury arising out of and in the course of employment. A worker includes anyone who enters into a contract of service or apprenticeship, independent operators, certain learners (required to complete vocational training by the employer) and volunteers, independent operators admitted by WorkSafeBC, or persons in a Ministry of Skills Development and Labour vocational training program deemed to be workers by WorkSafeBC.
For inquiries regarding the minimal age requirements for young workers please contact Employment Standards Branch information line at 1-800-663-3316 or visit the Ministry of Skills Development and Labour web site.