Ontario's Workplace Safety and Prevention Services in association with the provincial Ministry of Labour has launched a website that will focus specifically on helping parents and other adult influencers of young workers play a more significant role in their workplace safety.
Rather than take the more prescriptive approach that current resources offer, Bring Safety Home features a range of resources including video perspectives on young worker safety from business owners, therapists, health and safety experts and young workers themselves. It also features important information on worker rights and other knowledge parents should have.
“Every year, more than 6,000 young workers across Ontario are injured seriously enough to need time off work,” said Kevin Flynn, minister of labour. “That’s the equivalent of nearly 17 Ontario youth a day. That’s why Bring Safety Home is such an excellent campaign — it will help give parents the tools they need to help their kids stay informed and safe at work.”
Seeing parents more involved in the process of ensuring their children have positive experiences entering the workforce has long been a passion for Flynn. He even shares a remarkable story involving his own son in a video on the website.
According to the Ministry of Labour, new workers are three times more likely to be injured during the first month on the job than experienced workers.
“The number of young workers injured in the workplace is alarmingly high,” said Robert Harris, WSPS vice-president market strategy. “This website goes beyond offering parents and adults working with young adults the usual information about workplace safety. It opens up the possibility of new levels of communication between adults and young workers designed to truly transform behaviour.”
Along with compelling stories shared in the videos, the website also offers parents insight on how to have productive dialogue with their children about their workplaces, suggesting questions to ask and how to listen in a constructive way.
Currently the website is focused on the service, manufacturing and agriculture sectors with a wider rollout expected to follow later in the year.
“New and young workers are more vulnerable their first month on the job than more seasoned workers,” said George Gritziotis, Ontario’s chief prevention officer. “That’s why I am pleased to support our health and safety system partners in tackling this problem through new and innovative ways such as getting parents involved through Bring Safety Home.”
Rather than take the more prescriptive approach that current resources offer, Bring Safety Home features a range of resources including video perspectives on young worker safety from business owners, therapists, health and safety experts and young workers themselves. It also features important information on worker rights and other knowledge parents should have.
“Every year, more than 6,000 young workers across Ontario are injured seriously enough to need time off work,” said Kevin Flynn, minister of labour. “That’s the equivalent of nearly 17 Ontario youth a day. That’s why Bring Safety Home is such an excellent campaign — it will help give parents the tools they need to help their kids stay informed and safe at work.”
Seeing parents more involved in the process of ensuring their children have positive experiences entering the workforce has long been a passion for Flynn. He even shares a remarkable story involving his own son in a video on the website.
According to the Ministry of Labour, new workers are three times more likely to be injured during the first month on the job than experienced workers.
“The number of young workers injured in the workplace is alarmingly high,” said Robert Harris, WSPS vice-president market strategy. “This website goes beyond offering parents and adults working with young adults the usual information about workplace safety. It opens up the possibility of new levels of communication between adults and young workers designed to truly transform behaviour.”
Along with compelling stories shared in the videos, the website also offers parents insight on how to have productive dialogue with their children about their workplaces, suggesting questions to ask and how to listen in a constructive way.
Currently the website is focused on the service, manufacturing and agriculture sectors with a wider rollout expected to follow later in the year.
“New and young workers are more vulnerable their first month on the job than more seasoned workers,” said George Gritziotis, Ontario’s chief prevention officer. “That’s why I am pleased to support our health and safety system partners in tackling this problem through new and innovative ways such as getting parents involved through Bring Safety Home.”
