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WorkSafeBC

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Resources for Young Workers by Group - Unions


Young Workers | Employers & Supervisors | Unions | Educators | Parents | Youth & Community Groups


The following links list tools, publications, and other resources to help prevent young worker injuries and illnesses. These resources may not meet all the requirements for health and safety in British Columbia. Please check the Workers Compensation Act, the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, and related materials for specific WorkSafeBC requirements.

If you have any questions please E-mail us at or phone 604-276-3100 in the Lower Mainland, or toll-free in British Columbia at 1-888-621-7233 (621-SAFE).

Amendments to Part 3 of the OHS Regulation - Orientation and Training of Young and New Workers

These amendments come into effect on July 26, 2007 and describe orientation and training requirements for young and new workers. Documents and links in this section will provide you with more information about the new Regulation, along with some useful tools to help your business implement the new Regulation.

Regulation Part 3

Guideline Part 3

Additional Resources
Backgrounder for Employers (PDF 141 KB)

Sample Orientation Checklist (PDF 39 KB) Also includes a "how to" section, and suggested additional topics to cover.

Sample Orientation Checklist A Word document you can easily adapt while creating a checklist specific to your worksite.

Frequently asked questions: New and Young Worker Orientation and Training Requirements

The Employers' Advisers Office is offering free seminars province-wide on the Young and New Worker Orientation and Training Regulation.

Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC


Young Workers in Manufacturing new item

thumbnail Young Workers in Manufacturing (Video 6 min 39 s)
Michael Lovett lost his leg in a sawmill accident in 1999. He was just 18 years old. In this short video, Michael and a WorkSafeBC officer provide a perspective on what employers can - and should - do to prevent more tragedies like this.

Young and New Workers - They're Worth Your Attention new item

In this new video, health and safety professionals, along with production managers, supervisors and staff from 13 different B.C. companies, share their experiences in orientation, training, and supervision of young workers.

Video Introduction

Company profiles from 4 different sectors
Construction/Road Building
Manufacturing/Transportation
Forestry/Silviculture
Hospitality/Retail

Order a copy of the disc.
DVD guide (PDF 896 KB)
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC


3 Steps to Effective Worker Education and Training BK42 updated publication

Designed for employers and supervisors, this guide offers a three-step framework based on orientation, education, and training new and young workers to be safe on the job.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (1.1 MB) Updated May 2008
* Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.

Be a Survivor Magazine

New Version of this full colour 8-page magazine features useful tips and articles on young worker safety. It's a great resource for youth and anyone who comes into contact with youth such as parents, educators, employers, labour and community groups.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (167 KB)
* Available in print format from Publications, Videos and Forms Distributions.

Young Worker Videos

video jacket cover Lost Youth Video-Four Stories of Injured Young Workers

Michael, Jennifer, John, and Nick all speak of losing their youth after suffering serious workplace accidents. Through dramatic recreations of these accidents and one-on-one discussions with the young people and their parents. Lost Youth tells four stories of lives forever altered.


video jacket cover The Supervisor
This video is a documentary-drama that examines issues related to supervisor responsibility for workplace health and safety. The video graphically depicts the emotional, legal, and financial consequences of a fictionalized workplace accident that leads to the death of a young worker.


Joe Who?
Young workers are often hard to reach, especially when it comes to workplace safety. Joe Who? is a valuable tool, giving young people a voice to speak to each other about the tragic consequences of workplace injuries, The play was written and performed by students from Matthew McNair Secondary School in Richmond. It offers a unique perspective on the challenges experienced by young workers in B.C.


video jacket coverThe Workplace: Youth at Risk (2005)
A video featuring the dramatic stories of five injured young workers and their parents whose lives have been forever altered by a workplace accident. This updated version features a new introduction by Dave Anderson, WorkSafeBC President and CEO, as well as some new footage of Lauren Barwick, a dressage rider paralyzed in a workplace accident. The video was produced jointly by Shaw Cablesystems and WorkSafeBC.

  • Order a copy of the video.


Worker Orientation Checklist

Use this checklist when training young and new workers on health and safety in your workplace.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (299 KB)


Safety on the Job is Everyone's Business: The Responsibilities of Employers, Supervisors and Workers

All new workers need training in equipment use and safe work procedures. This pamphlet covers the basics in training new workers. Employer, supervisor, and worker responsibilities for developing and maintaining a safe workplace are outlined.
Source: WorkSafeBC WorkSafeBC
* PDF (120 KB)
* Available in print from Publications, Videos and Forms Distribution.



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