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IAPA focuses on young workers |
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Written by REM Staff
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TORONTO—The IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) has set its sights on new and young workers in a safety awareness campaign, which is aimed at drawing attention to the alarming injury and death rates among young workers.
"It's time for us to step up our efforts to make young people aware of their rights and responsibilities on the job, and help them understand that they can refuse unsafe work and ask for proper training," says Maureen Shaw, IAPA's President and CEO.
To that end, IAPA launched a campaign to raise awareness of young worker safety and of the availability of young-worker health and safety resources that can reduce injury and fatality rates.
The campaign announcement, which coincided in September with the first day of "Healthy Workplace Month," will take place throughout October and November during a series IAPA regional conferences across the province—each one with a young worker component/element.
"This is the perfect time of year and opportunity to talk health and safety with young workers. With our combined efforts and a united front with the Ministry of Labour (MOL) and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), we can engage young workers in initiating and sustaining a healthy workplace and community," says Shaw.
Alarming Statistics
The need for this campaign is borne out of statistics from the WSIB, Institute for Work and Health, and other sources. These statistics show that students and young workers suffer a significant number of work-related injuries and deaths each year. Consider these statistics:
• In 2006, 11,382 young workers between the ages of 15 and 24, were injured to the extent that were unable to work for at least one day.
• In 2006, 10 young workers between the ages of 15 and 24 were killed as a result of a work-related accident or injury.
• In the first four weeks on the job, young workers are over five times more likely to be injured while at work.
• Young workers, individuals between the ages of 15 to 24 years old, make up approximately 15 percent of the Canadian workforce. This small percentage of the workforce is especially vulnerable to workplace injuries, illness, and death.
A recently conducted Canadian health survey found young workers to be twice as likely to fall victim to a work-related injury as adults.
www.iapa.ca
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