Attention
Ontario Contractors

Start young workers off right.   Tell them... Show them... Watch them.   They could be your sons and daughters.   Make sure they know - hazards to watch out for - safeguards to follow - people to ask.

As an employer in Ontario you have duties under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

The Act states that an employer must "take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker" [Section 25(2)(h)].

This blanket requirement has been used to prosecute everything from failure to provide guardrails to failure to provide adequate supervision and training. Take the time to review Part III, "Duties of Employers and Other Persons," in the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Under the Act, the construction regulation (Ontario Regulation 213/91) spells out additional requirements for employers. Some of these are summarized in the following pages.

Statistics show that a significant percentage of all injuries to workers occur within their first thirty days on the job. This fact highlights the importance of training and orientation--especially for young workers.

 

Inexperienced workers are generally involved in more accidents than veteran workers. Although experience increases safety awareness, early education in health, safety, and job skills can improve the safety record for new workers right from the start. Accident prevention training should begin as soon as the young worker joins your company. Training is a vital part of orientation. Your company's health and safety policy and program should provide for both procedures.

You have a duty to train new workers
before they start work

The law requires training in

• WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System)
• fall protection
• specific tasks such as traffic control, confined space entry, and window cleaning
• emergency procedures, including fall rescue
• specific equipment such as powder-actuated tools, chainsaws, forklifts, hoisting equipment, fire extinguishers, scissor lifts, and other powered elevating work platforms.

New workers must be told--and, if necessary, trained and shown--what is expected of them in

• work performance
• safe operation of tools and equipment
• procedures around hazardous materials
• proper use of any required personal protective equipment and clothing.

Training is also necessary

• when a worker is assigned to a new job
• whenever equipment, materials, or procedures are new to the worker
• when inadequate performance is observed.

New workers need orientation

1. Give the new worker a copy of the company health and safety policy.
2. Explain the project and the worker's duties.
3. Alert the worker to any hazards on site and the protective measures required.
4. Explain requirements for personal protective equipment.
5. Outline procedures for emergencies and accident reporting.
6. Show the worker where to find first aid kit, fire extinguishers, and other emergency equipment.
7. Introduce the new worker to his or her supervisor.
8. Show the new worker around the site.

 

A new worker can absorb only so much information in the first few days. A copy of the company's health and safety policy and program can help by reinforcing the points covered during orientation (for sample policies, call Customer Service at 1-800-781-2726 and ask for DS030). Wherever possible, use the buddy system to follow up on orientation. Pairing a new worker with a veteran can help each to work more safely. You will reinforce the new worker's training and raise the veteran's safety awareness at the same time.

Learn how young workers think

Surveys conducted by the WSIB and other organizations indicate that young workers have some
thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes that can be dangerous.

"I'll do almost anything my employer asks me to."

"I trust my employer not to make me do anything unsafe or dangerous."

"I assume the equipment and chemicals I work with are safe."

"I don't know much about health and safety rights and responsibilities."

"I don't want to ask too many questions. I may lose my job."

"Protective equipment isn't cool. I won't wear it unless someone makes me."

"I don't want my boss to think I complain too much about hazards."

"I wish I could ask someone my own age."

"The training I get is basically on the job. Not much of it involves health or safety."

"It's not an injury unless I can't do my job anymore."

"I've got to work hard and fast. I don't want anyone to think I'm lazy."

"I'll make do with whatever tools and equipment they give me."

"Everybody talks about safety. But when it comes to getting the job done they don't have time for it."

Know what works with young workers

Again, studies conducted by the WSIB and other organizations indicate how to get young employees to listen, follow instructions, and understand why working safely is important.

"Show me realistic cause-and-effect examples of what can go wrong."

"Show me real situations, including blood and gore."

"Pay me for the time you want me to spend training or reading the stuff you give me."

"Give me time at work to read the policy rather than telling me to read it on my own."

"Don't just tell me to be careful. Show me how to do it right."

"Why should I wear this equipment if other guys don't?"

Encourage them to ask questions

Learning by trial and error can be dangerous. When they have questions about equipment, materials, or procedure, young workers should feel comfortable asking you or your foreman for answers. In the same vein, encourage young workers to report hazards and injuries.

 

Remember what you were like at their age

 

Explain common construction hazards

FALLS	Train workers in fall protection and keep records of training.
LADDERS	Warn workers about ladders not properly set up, maintained, or used.
HOUSEKEEPING	Show how poor housekeeping and storage can cause accidents.
ELECTRICAL CONTACT	Describe how workers can be hurt or killed when ladders, scaffolds, or long material such as pipe or lumber contacts overhead powerlines or when careless excavation strikes underground powerlines.
TRENCHES	Warn young workers never to enter any trench that's more than four feet deep unless it's properly shored, sloped, or protected by a trench box.
REVERSING VEHICLES	Show young workers the blind spots that may block an operator's view to the side, rear, or front of vehicles and equipment.
TOOLS/EQUIPMENT	Where necessary, demonstrate operation and maintenance.Tell young workers to report faulty tools and equipment.
SCAFFOLDS	Point out that scaffolds must be fully planked, braced, and properly erected.
GUARDRAILS	Remember to install guardrails wherever a worker may fall more than three metres and other protection is not provided.
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS	Explain WHMIS and other requirements.
TRAFFIC CONTROL	Give written and oral instructions to anyone assigned to control traffic.
PPE	Demonstrate the proper use and maintenance of any personal protective equipment required on the job.
CONFINED SPACES	Warn young workers never to enter a confined space without appropriate training.

CSAO has print, video, and digital products covering all of these topics, including New on the Job (orientation video) and Your Construction Job (brochure for new workers). Training programs are also available.

Contact Customer Service at 1-800-781-2726 or visit www.csao.org