In all workplaces in Nova Scotia, employees have the following three basic rights:

• To know about anything that could affect health and safety in the workplace.
• To take part in making the workplace safety.
• To refuse work that is not safe.

In general, your responsibilities under Nova Scotia’s Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act include:

• Report a workplace incident or injury.
• Provide first aid in the workplace.
• Prevent workplace injury.
• Create a company safety policy.
• Know your responsibilities.
• Establish a health and safety program.
• Create a joint occupational health and safety committee or representative.
• Control hazards.
• Learn from experience.
• Leadership and training.
• Establish a return-to-work program

For more information please refer to Section 13 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Remember, young workers don’t have a lot of experience. But they are quick to act and eager to take on new projects.

They may not ask questions because they have a lot on their mind – school projects, boyfriends or girlfriends, their last text message. They just want to get the job done. Plus, they want you to think they can handle it.

So how do you make young workers understand why workplace safety is important?

First, you have to believe it yourself.

It means, above all, showing active leadership, from the top of your company down. 

The Preventing Workplace Injury series - PWI for short - puts safety in plain language. Learn more with these publications: 

• Preventing Workplace Injuries: A Resource Manual
• Preventing Workplace Injuries: Getting Started 
• Preventing Workplace Injuries: It Takes Leadership
• PWI Survey

Here are some other points to keep in mind:

• Don’t expect young people to speak up. Remember how you felt on your first job. If they feel unsafe, you may not know until it’s too late.
• About half of young workers haven’t talked about safety with their boss. Make your workplace part of the other half.
• Be aware of Nova Scotia’s regulations – the Labour Standards Code, working alone, workplace violence, WHMIS. They’re all online. They’re all the law.

Creating a safe workplace takes more than a handout at your staff meeting. Employers need to work with their supervisors to show and practice ongoing commitment.

• Train, train, train.
  Invest the time up front on job-specific safety training.  Your workers should know what can hurt them, and how to avoid it. Of course, they also need to know emergency procedures.
• Talk about your policy and your program in plain language.
  Say things like “If you see something dangerous, tell me about it.” or “Any time you feel unsafe, make sure you tell me, no matter what. Your safety comes first.”
• Make safety a part of service. 
  Young workers often feel the need to impress, and with work and time pressures they’ll sometimes take short cuts, like chopping food too quickly, moving too many grocery carts or climbing shelving instead of using a ladder.   Good service includes time for safety.  Doing otherwise means injuries for workers and costs for employers.
• WHMIS
  Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System training is mandatory for jobs involving chemicals and other hazardous materials.
• Have a buddy system.
  Pair young workers with experienced workers. This can help them feel comfortable asking questions.
• Make safety a priority yourself.
  To a generation raised on TV and music videos, what they see matters as much as what they hear. So set the example, wear your hardhat, buckle up in the company truck, talk about safety at every meeting. Little things matter.

Remember, keeping your people safe at work is your job. So start the conversation about workplace safety.

As a start, introduce your young workers to Rod Stickman. 

Fun, a little quirky, and packed with information (plus a cow, a bear, and a monkey) our downloadable Rod Stickman videos and discussion guides cover big issues in workplace safety, in an entertaining way. They’re a great way to get the conversation about safety started, for young workers and veterans alike.

And we’ve even added a new young worker focused video and discussion guide to help you encourage learning and discussion. 

• Rod Stickman Videos
• Young Rod Stickman Video
• How to use the discussion guides below
• Return to Work
• Working Safely by Design
• Slips and Falls
• Working From Heights
• Communicating at Work
• Young Workers
• Workplace Posters
• Young Worker Guide

Tips by Text

If you use a texting application to stay in touch with your employees, text a tip once a week to let your employees know about important safety issues. Here are a few to get you started: 

1. We take safety seriously and want to help you be safe at work. And to help do that, you will be getting some text safety tips over the next while.
2. If you ever have safety concerns or even have a tip to share, please contactX.
3. Take responsibility for your own workspace. Keep it organized and hazard free.
4. Use your knees (not your back) to lift reasonable loads.
5. Never lift heavy items above your waist.
6. Speak up if something seems unsafe at work –tell your boss.
7. Refuse to use ladders that are not properly secured, or appear unsafe.
8. Be sure you’ve received proper safety training and the right gear for each job.
9. Don’t rush. Take time to pay attention in each task you do.
10. Make sure you have enough light to see clearly, and keep walkways free of obstacles.
11. Do not carry objects that obstruct your vision.
12. Be sure to keep three points of contact when using a ladder.
13. Pushing is always better than pulling - your muscles are designed to push.
14. Keep the load you are carrying close to your body – above your knees and below your shoulders.
15. Clean up messes right away to avoid unnecessary slips and falls.
16. Safety is everyone’s responsibility. If you ever have safety concerns or would like to share a safety tip, please contact (insert contact info).