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Statistics for Young Workers
A snapshot of young worker injuries
This video is part of the Young Worker Focus Report.
(2 min 13 sec)
Also, see When young workers are seriously injured (1 min 46 sec) and When young workers are killed (3 min 13 sec)
View the entire report in HTML
General Statistics
Injury Rate Comparison 2007 - 2011
| Year | Males 15-24 | Females 15-24 | All Ages 15-24 | All Workers Overall injury rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 4.9 | 1.9 | 3.5 | 3.1 |
| 2008 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 3.2 | 3.0 |
| 2009 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 2.1 | 2.3 |
| 2011 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
See Terms of Reference for definitions of terms used.
Young Worker Employment 2007-2011
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | 355,100 | 359,900 | 330,200 | 322,400 | 322,400 |
- Based on Labour Force Survey Data. Table 282-0008 Labour Force Survey estimates (LFT), by North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), sex and age group.
- Figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
See Terms of Reference for definitions of terms used.
Young Worker Claims 2007-2011
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claims | 11,367 | 10,533 | 6,844 | 6,227 | 6,592 |
Only claims in rateable sectors are counted in the graph above.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
See Terms of Reference for definitions of terms used.
Young Worker Claims by Industry 2007-2011
| Industry | STD/LTD/Fatal Claims |
|---|---|
| Service Sector | 33% |
| Construction | 21% |
| Trade | 21% |
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 5% |
| Primary Resources | 4% |
| Public Sector | 2% |
Only rateable sectors are displayed.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
The top seven dangers to young workers.
See Terms of Reference for definitions of terms used.
Total Young Worker Serious Injuries 2007-2011
| Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Serious Injuries | 2,367 | 2,210 | 1,582 | 1,479 | 1,570 |
Only claims in rateable sectors are counted in the graph above.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
The top seven dangers to young workers.
See Terms of Reference for definitions of terms used.
Total Young Worker Serious Injuries by Industry 2007-2011
| Industry | Number of Serious Injuries |
|---|---|
| Service Sector | 28% |
| Construction | 26% |
| Trade | 19% |
| Manufacturing | 14% |
| Transportation and Warehousing | 6% |
| Primary Resources | 5% |
| Public Sector | 2% |
Only rateable sectors are displayed.
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
The top seven dangers to young workers.
See Terms of Reference for definitions of terms used.
Claims Overview by Industry
Manufacturing | Retail | Construction | Hospitality | Transportation | Forestry | Agriculture
Manufacturing Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 5,962
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Struck by (1,631/27%) |
cutting handtools wood, lumber structural metal materials fasteners striking and nailing handtools |
cuts, lacerations bruises, contusions fractures punctures sprains, strains, tears |
labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing labourers in metal fabrication welders and soldering machine operators |
| Overexertion (1,512/25%) | wood, lumber boxes, crates, cartons structural metal materials |
sprains, strains, tears | labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing labourers in metal fabrication material handlers |
| Caught in (589/10%) |
wood, lumber conveyors - powered presses structural metal materials boring, drilling, planing, milling machinery |
crushing injuries cuts, lacerations fractures bruises, contusions |
labourers in wood, pulp and paper processing labourers in metal fabrication welders and soldering machine operators |
Retail Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 7,621
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Overexertion (2,783/37%) |
boxes, crates, cartons bags, sacks, totes cart, dolly, handtruck |
sprains, strains, tears | retail salesperson and sales clerk grocery clerks and shelf stockers material handlers |
| Struck by (1,707/22%) | cutting hand tools boxes, crates, cartons skids, pallets cart, dolly, handtruck |
cuts, lacerations bruises, contusions sprains, strains, tears |
retail salesperson and sales clerk grocery clerks and shelf stockers material handlers |
| Caught in (750/10%) |
food and beverage processing machinery shelving sawing machinery |
cuts, lacerations bruises, contusions sprains, strains, tears |
retail salesperson and sales clerk grocery clerks and shelf stockers material handlers |
Construction Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 8,928
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Struck by (2,528/28%) |
fasteners cutting handtools wood lumber striking and nailing handtools |
cuts, lacerations bruises, contusions punctures fractures |
construction helpers and labourers carpenters plumbers |
| Overexertion (1,909/21%) | wood, lumber structural metal materials pipes, ducts, tubing digging handtools |
sprains, strains, tears | construction helpers and labourers carpenters plumbers |
| Fall from elevation (589/10%) |
fall from ladders fall from scaffolds, staging, platforms fall down stairs or steps fall from roofs jump/step from non-moving vehicle |
sprains, strains, tears fractures bruises, contusions |
construction helpers and labourers carpenters roofers and shinglers |
Hospitality Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 7,472
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Struck by (2,056/28%) |
cutting handtools drinking cups, beverage glasses boxes, crates, cartons doors |
cuts, lacerations bruises, contusions sprains, strains, tears avulsions |
cooks, kitchen/service helpers counter attendants and food preparers food and beverage servers |
| Fall on same level (1,120/15%) | fall onto floors, walkways, or other surface fall onto or against objects |
sprains, strains, tears bruises, contusions fractures cuts, lacerations |
food and beverage servers counter attendants and food preparers kitchen/service helpers |
| Exposure to heat, cold (1,105/15%) |
fresh or processed food products liquids beverages heating and cooking machinery and appliances pots, pans, and trays |
heat burns and scalds | cooks, fast food preparers kitchen/service helpers food/beverage servers |
Transportation and Warehousing Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 1,989
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Overexertion (629/32%) |
boxes, crates, cartons luggage, handbags bags, sacks, totes |
sprains, strains, tears |
material handlers air transport ramp attendants railway and motor transport labourers |
| Struck by (363/18%) | boxes, crates, cartons trucks skids, pallets structural metal materials |
bruises, contusions sprains, strains, tears cuts, lacerations fractures |
material handlers air transport ramp attendants truck drivers |
| Fall from elevation (183/9%) |
fails or jumps from non-moving vehicles falls or jumps to lower levels falls from ladder |
sprain, strains, tears fractures bruises, contusions |
material handlers truck drivers air transport ramp attendants |
Forestry Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 497
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Struck by (94/19%) |
falling/rolling trees or logs cutting handtools ropers, ties |
fractures cuts, lacerations bruises, contusions abrasions, scratches |
logging and forestry labourers chainsaw and skidder operators silviculture and forestry workers logging machinery operators |
| Fall on same level (81/16%) |
falls onto or against objects falls to floor, walkway, or other surface |
sprains, strains, tears bruises, contusions fractures cuts, lacerations |
logging and forestry labourers silviculture and forestry workers chainsaw and skidder operators |
| Overexertion (75/15%) |
trees, logs digging handtools ropers and ties |
sprain, strains, tears traumatic inflammation of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints dislocations |
logging and forestry labourers silviculture and forestry workers logging machinery operators |
Agriculture Claims Overview (2007-2011)
Total number of claims 2007-2011 = 449
Top 3 Accident Types
Top 3 Accident Types |
Particular Source of Injury | Particular Nature of Injury | Particular Worker Occupation |
| (# of Claims / % of Total Young Worker Claims) | |||
| Struck by (126/28%) |
animals cutting handtools cart, dolly and handtrucks other building materials |
bruises, contusions cuts, lacerations fractures sprains, strains, tears |
general farm workers nursery and greenhouse workers farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers |
| Overexertion (70/16%) |
boxes, crates, cartons skids, pallets trees and logs |
sprains, strains, tears | nursery and greenhouse worker general farm workers |
| Fall from elevation (81/16%) |
falls from ladders fall from upper levels fall from non-moving vehicles |
sprain, strains, tears fractures bruises, and contusions |
general farm workers harvesting labourers nursery and greenhouse workers |
Data Source: WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
Notes and Definitions
Counts and percentages are based on STD, LTD, Fatal Counts: SLF Claims represent claims with a first short-term disability, long-term disability or fatal benefit (reserve set or cash award) paid in the period, regardless of the year of injury.
Young Workers: Workers who are aged 15-24 at the time of injury.
| Industry | Sector/Subsector |
| Agriculture | Subsector 7010 |
| Construction | Sector 72 |
| Forestry | Subsector 7030 |
| Hospitality | Subsector 7610 |
| Manufacturing | Sector 71 |
| Retail | Subsector 7410 |
| Transportation and Warehousing | Sector 73 |
Data Source - WorkSafeBC Business Information & Analysis
Fact Sheets by Geographic Region
Click on the links below for young worker fact sheets by geographic region. View the Fact Sheet for the entire province of British Columbia PDF 83 KB.
- Fraser Valley (Surrey and Abbotsford) (PDF 48 KB)
- Interior (Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nelson) (PDF 49 KB)
- Lower Mainland (Burnaby, Coquitlam, North Shore, Richmond/Vancouver/Delta) (PDF 49 KB)
- North Region (Fort St. John, Prince George, Terrace) (PDF 47 KB)
- Vancouver Island (Courtenay, Nanaimo, Victoria) (PDF 48 KB)
Statistics: WorkSafeBC Terms of Reference
# Serious Injury Claims: The number of claims with a first Short Term Disability (STD), Long Term Disability (LTD), or Fatal payment in the month of injury or the three months following the month of injury AND where at least one of the following is met: (a) long duration (wage-loss in the period of 28 or more days); (b) high health-care costs (costs in the period equivalent to 28 or more days of wage-loss); (c) fatality (fatal benefit payment in the period); (d) serious medical diagnosis (one of 275 selected ICD9 codes).
# STD/LTD/Fatal Claims: The number of claims with costs related to at least one of the following benefits types: short-term disability benefits (STD), long-term disability benefits (LTD), or survivor benefits (Fatal) and where the first STD/LTD/Fatal payment date is within the year.
Injury Rate: The number of non-health care only claims per one hundred person-years of covered employment, where one hundred person-years is the equivalent of one hundred full-time part-time employees working in the year. Because of the way employment data from Statistics Canada and WorkSafeBC person years are combined, person years by age-gender group are approximate.
Non-HCO claims: The number of claims with costs related to at least one of the following benefits types: short-term disability benefits (STD), long-term disability benefits (LTD), or survivor (Fatal) benefits and where the first STD/LTD/Fatal payment date is within the year of injury or the three months following the year of injury.
Young Workers: Workers who are aged 15-24 at the time of injury.
Rateable Sectors: Sectors 70 - 76.
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