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Workplace Experiences of Young Workers in Ontario

  • Quantitative Research
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Canadian Journal of Public Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

We examine the workplace experiences of Ontario youth in the service sector, with a particular interest in hazard exposures, safety training and supervision.

Method

A cross-sectional telephone survey in 2008 of working youth aged 14–18. Items queried respondents about the tasks performed, worker training and supervision. The study parallels one already published in the US. This is the first Canadian study of its kind.

Results

Although teens reported working more hours during vacation, a substantial number of youth are working at least 20 hours per week when school is in session, and many reported having worked after 11 pm on a night before school. Young workers engaged in a variety of hazardous tasks, including heavy lifting, using sharp objects, working with hot equipment, or working around falling objects. A small subset (7.5%) of teens had suffered an injury at work that was severe enough to cause them to miss a day of school or work or require medical attention. The majority of workers had received training on how to use equipment safely and how to avoid an injury. More females than males received training. Although regular check-ins were common, many youth (38%) said they had worked at least part of the day without supervision. Young females were most likely to work without supervision or to work alone.

Conclusion

This study questions whether the regulations in Ontario are sufficient to protect young workers from exposures to work-related hazards.

Résumé

Objectifs

Examiner le travail des jeunes de l’Ontario dans le secteur des services en nous attachant particulièrement à l’exposition aux risques, à la formation SST et à la supervision.

Méthode

Enquête téléphonique transversale menée en 2008 auprès de jeunes travailleurs de 14 à 18 ans. Les questions portaient sur les tâches effectuées, la formation des travailleurs et la supervision. L’étude s’inspire d’une étude parue aux États-Unis. C’est la première du genre au Canada.

Résultats

Les adolescents disent travailler plus d’heures durant les vacances, mais un bon nombre travaillent au moins 20 heures par semaine durant l’année scolaire, et beaucoup disent travailler passé 23 h même quand ils ont de l’école le lendemain. Ces jeunes effectuent des tâches diverses, dont soulever des objets lourds, manipuler des objets tranchants, travailler avec de l’équipement chaud ou travailler autour d’objets qui tombent. Un petit sous-groupe (7,5 %) avait subi au des blessures suffisamment graves au travail pour manquer un jour d’école ou de travail ou pour nécessiter une visite médicale. La majorité des travailleurs est formée à l’utilisation sécuritaire de l’équipement et à la prévention des accidents. Plus de filles que de garçons reçoivent une formation. Les vérifications périodiques sont courantes, mais beaucoup de jeunes (38 %) disent travailler au moins une partie de la journée sans supervision. Les filles sont plus susceptibles de travailler seules ou sans supervision.

Conclusion

Cette étude met en doute le fait que la réglementation ontarienne protège suffisamment les jeunes travailleurs contre les accidents du travail.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Research in Human Development, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, ON, P3E 2C6, Canada

    John H. Lewko MA, PhD & Carol W. Runyan MPH, PhD

  2. University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center and Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, Canada

    Cindy-Lynne S. Tremblay MA

  3. Department of Health Policy and Management, College of Public Health, Kent State University, Kent, OH, Canada

    John A. Staley MSEH, PhD

  4. Life Span Adaptation Projects, Institute of Child Study and Department of Human Development and Applied Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Richard Volpe MA, PhD

Authors
  1. John H. Lewko MA, PhD
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  2. Carol W. Runyan MPH, PhD
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  3. Cindy-Lynne S. Tremblay MA
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  4. John A. Staley MSEH, PhD
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  5. Richard Volpe MA, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John H. Lewko MA, PhD.

Additional information

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Lewko, J.H., Runyan, C.W., Tremblay, CL.S. et al. Workplace Experiences of Young Workers in Ontario. Can J Public Health 101, 380–384 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404857

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404857

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