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18 young workers hurt each day
As the school year comes to a close, many young British Columbians will join the workforce – some for the first time. It’s important that they are trained to work safely and know their workplace safety rights.
In 2010, more than 6,300 young workers (ages 15–24) were injured on the job – and two died as a result.
Young workers are most at risk of being injured when they are new to their jobs: 55% of all serious injuries occur during the first six months of employment. Those are injuries like amputations, head and spinal cord injuries. It’s a heavy cost for anyone to pay, never mind a young person.
Young worker claims statistics
Accepted claims* and fatalities for young workers – 2001-2010 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | |
| Claims* | 10,487 | 9,214 | 8,936 | 9,544 | 10,352 | 10,944 | 11,475 | 10,652 | 6,932 | 6,308 |
| Fatalities | 5 | 4 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 2 |
| *Includes all accepted claims for short-term and long-term disabilities and fatalities. | ||||||||||
WorkSafeBC has focused on young worker safety for more than a decade and can provide resources, statistics and experts on this subject, including:
- Resources for parents of young workers
- Subject matter expert: Trudi Rondou
- Video: Why focus on young worker safety
- WorkSafe Magazine: Kamloops teen is a construction safety leader
- Young worker research
For more information on this or other topics, please contact:
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Megan Johnston |
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