A teenager’s first summer job is a rite of passage. Punching a time clock or cashing their first paycheque helps a young person build character, learn about teamwork and begin to appreciate the value of hard work, commitment and money. But how valuable are these life lessons if your child faces danger, is injured or even killed on the job? John Higgins learned the hard way. He was working to save money for university when an accident at a B.C. recycling plant changed his life. Three days after he was crushed by a forklift, the then 16-year-old woke up in the hospital with staples, metal rods and screws holding him together. He had lost a kidney and his legs were paralyzed.

Workplace accidents occur more often than one might think. According to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, the number of employees compensated following a work-related injury, including permanent disability, in 2005 was more than 330,000. The number of deaths that same year was more than one thousand.

While one in seven young Canadians—those in their teens and 20s—suffers a work-related injury, they make up fully one quarter of all Canadian workers injured on the job.

Most injuries can be prevented if common sense and safety regulations are heeded. But many young Canadians, working for the first time, are either unaware of safety practices or are too shy or intimidated to voice their concerns. This is where a parent needs to step up to the plate.

“A parent, when leaving their children at home alone, will typically instruct them on safety issues: what to do in case of a fire or burglary, when to call police,” says Len Hong, president and CEO of the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety. “That same concern, applied to their children’s summer job, will help ensure a safe and rewarding experience for their child.”

Make sure your teenager knows that all jobs have potential dangers. And let them know they have rights and responsibilities when it comes to their own safety and that of their co-workers.

Talking to Your Teen

Ensure that your child does not become a statistic. Tell your working teen that no job is worth getting hurt or dying for. Remind them that every worker has rights where safety is concerned, even those working part-time, and that they can legally refuse unsafe work. Most important, be sure your teen knows that you will support him fully should he decide to challenge a supervisor if he feels he’s being asked to do something unsafe.

Here are some questions the WSIB suggests you ask your working teen in order to understand the risks she may be facing on the job:

-   What do you do in a typical day?
-   What kind of equipment are you using, and how much training have you had on that equipment?
-   Do you wear safety equipment?
-   Do you feel you’ve had enough training to do your job?
-   Does your boss answer any questions you may have?

Make sure your child is also asking the right questions on the job:

-   When will training be provided?
Make sure your teen he should not perform a task for which he has not been properly trained.

-   Will safety equipment be issued? Will I be shown how to properly use it?
Your teen, like any other employee, can legally refuse to do work she feels is unsafe.

-   Where can I get a copy of the safety regulations?
It is your teen’s responsibility as an employee to be informed if the employer does not provide sufficient information up front. They also have a responsibility to protect themselves and their co-workers.

-   What are the emergency response procedures (in case of a robbery, fire or medical emergency)?

Let your teen know that he should not ignore safety concerns simply because other employees do. Just because other employees have not been injured on the job doesn’t mean they won’t be. And encourage them to talk to you if they have any concerns about their job.

Real Dangers

Some jobs have a number of potential dangers. All employees have the right to know about any hazards in their job and how to protect themselves. Here are some examples:

Waiters or Baristas: Potential dangers include contact with bacteria as well as bleach and other cleaners; walking and/or standing for lengthy periods; lifting heavy objects.

Landscapers: Potential dangers include exposure to fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides and UV rays; allergic reaction to weeds and pollen; risk of cuts and amputation, while using lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, etc., of feet and hands.

Painters: Potential dangers include skin and eye exposure to paints and solvents; falling off ladders or scaffolding.

Salespeople: Potential dangers include carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis; prolonged standing; lifting heavy objects; working alone and robberies.

General Office Workers: Reduced blood circulation and clotting from prolonged sitting; inflammation in muscles, joints and tendons from prolonged work on a computer; carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.

Warehouse Staff: Exposure to materials (solvents, dyestuffs, sealers and glue); breathing diesel, propane and gasoline exhaust from forklifts and trucks; being hit by falling objects; back injury from repetitive packing and shipping.