WorkSafeBC and BC Youth Week focus on young worker safety
Additional resources
- Young worker injury claims by region (PDF 61kb)
Richmond, B.C., May 5, 2009 —WorkSafeBC and the BC Provincial Youth Week Committee are supporting partners at events organized by youth for youth in 12 different communities across the province this week. Workplace safety is a part of the agenda at each community event where young people can hear directly about the importance of staying safe on the job.
“Young workers between the ages of 15–24 are highly vulnerable to injury on the job,” said Trudi Rondou, WorkSafeBC Industry and Labour Services manager. “This year we’re partnering with the youth week committee here in B.C. because it’s an ideal opportunity to engage youth in being safe at work. Our goal is to focus on safety, but also to involve young people in a positive, fun way.”
Last year in British Columbia, more than 10,500 young worker injury claims were accepted by WorkSafeBC with four of these being young workers fatally injured on the job. For the five-year period from 2004-2008, more than 50,000 injury claims were accepted, with young male workers receiving 74 percent of the claims and young female workers 26 percent. More than half of these claims were from the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver regions.
BC Youth Week is May 1-7, 2009 and scheduled activities include everything from skateboard competitions and basketball tournaments to graffiti contests, concerts, and employment fairs. WorkSafeBC officers will deliver more than 50 presentations taking the safety message to over 2,000 students at high schools and colleges across the province.
One of the largest events for the week is being held at the West Richmond Community Centre on May 6th with the BC Youth Week Committee, City of Richmond, Richmond School District and WorkSafeBC as supporting partners. Professional athletes Jamie Stoddard from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Konrad Wasiela of the Saskatchewan Roughriders will attend to encourage youth to come and play with the pros. World champion sit skier Josh Dueck and gold medal wheelchair athlete Jessica Des Mazes, both injured as a result of workplace accidents, will be available to speak about the challenges they have overcome to be champions in their sport. Other event activities include performances by rock bands, a barbeque, games and interactive safety exhibits where participants can test their CPR and first aid skills, as well as test fall protection gear.
“The BC Youth Week Committee is happy to be partnering with WorkSafeBC this year. This is a great opportunity to reach more youth and profile their accomplishments through community and business”, said Russ Brummer, program coordinator - Youth Services, Port Coquitlam Parks and Recreation Department.
WorkSafeBC is an independent provincial statutory agency governed by a Board of Directors that serves about two million workers and more than 200,000 employers. WorkSafeBC was born from the historic compromise between B.C.’s workers and employers in 1917 where workers gave up the right to sue their employers and fellow workers for injuries on the job in return for a no-fault insurance program fully paid for by employers. WorkSafeBC is committed to safe and healthy workplaces and to providing return-to-work rehabilitation and legislated compensation benefits.
To view a full list of youth week events scheduled in B.C. go to www.bcyouthweek.com and for more information on young worker safety please visit Young Workers at Risk on WorkSafeBC.com or www.raiseyourhand.com.
|
For more information, contact: |
|
| Michelle McLeod |
|