“The first thing I would tell my teenage self is to use common sense,” says John Watts, who worked multiple factory jobs in Ontario in his late teens and early 20s. “If something feels dangerous, it probably is."
The second is this: “If someone asks you to do something that you feel is dangerous, you have the right to refuse,” he says. “No job is worth getting seriously hurt or potentially killed.”
Watts, who received no safety training at these jobs, didn’t question it at the time. “When you're young you think you're invincible,” he says.
This is where parents come in. We want our teens to understand just how dangerous work can be when there is no proper training or safety protocols. We also want to teach them to have the courage to say no when pressured into unsafe or unhealthy work.
After all, for every person who has the courage to ask an uncomfortable question about dangerous working conditions, there is another who stays safe because of it. But how can we get our teen to be the person that speaks up? Start by asking them what they’ve noticed at their workplace.
Step 1: Encourage them to stay alert and notice what’s wrong
Employers must ensure all Ontario workers have completed a basic occupational health and safety awareness training program. The mandatory training might help your teen notice when something seems off.
Is the stockroom at the grocery store they work at way too crowded, with unsecured boxes that are constantly threatening to tumble on passing workers? Or maybe they noticed a lack of safety guards on dangerous tools and equipment at the restaurant where they work. Perhaps, they feel unsafe around a threatening coworker or customer. Whatever the health and safety risk, the first step is noticing that something does not seem right.
Step 2: Remind them that their workplace is legally required to keep them healthy and safe
Like many teenagers, your child might not want to deal with a confrontation with an authority figure or feel like they are potentially threatening their employment, especially when they are so new to the working world. It’s important to make sure they understand that they are not inconveniencing their employer by simply asking them to fulfill their legal duty (which is to keep their employees safe). Legally, your teen cannot get in trouble or get fired for bringing up safety concerns. Reprisals (meaning threatening to fire or firing employees for bringing up safety concerns) are illegal.
Step 3: Let them know who they can talk to
If they spot an issue, it’s important to address it with the proper authorities. However, teens may feel uncomfortable speaking up. That’s where parents come in—it’s our job to not only tell our kids we support them speaking up, but to point them in the right direction.
First of all, they should remember that it’s illegal for employers to punish or fire a worker for exercising their rights under workplace laws in Ontario. They should start by talking to their supervisor about safety concerns. If nothing gets done about their concern, they can talk to their health and safety rep or the worker member of their joint health and safety committee. They should also talk to their supervisor and (if applicable) their union about anything unsafe or unhealthy they notice at work. In extreme cases, they may also choose to file an anonymous complaint to Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Depending on the complaint, a ministry inspector may conduct a field visit to the workplace.