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Your teen may feel like what they wear to work won’t impact the safety of their job, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Long hair, loose clothing and jewellery can cause injury and even death when they become tangled in machinery.
At a commercial bakery in Toronto in 2016, a 23-year-old employee died after just three weeks on the job when her loose clothing became tangled in the chain drive of a conveyor belt. An emergency stop button was not within reach. The company was fined $300,000 for failing to ensure the worker had secured all loose clothing.
This is a tragic example of what can happen when dress code safety isn’t taken seriously by the employer and a scenario parents want to avoid at all costs. It’s an employer’s job to ensure workers are following uniform policies—but as parents, it’s important we make sure our kids understand why these policies exist in the first place. Take these steps to safeguard your teen at work.
Don’t assume uniform policies are in place to portray a certain image
Often, employers have a dress code (like wearing all black, for example) that is not a health and safety policy—but that doesn’t mean your teen should assume every uniform requirement is about optics. Wearing long sleeves might seem like a simple choice, but it actually offers a wide range of health and safety benefits. Sleeves can help protect against cuts, splatters, heat, burns, electric shocks, UV rays, irritants and other contaminants (depending on the job,).
Jewellery can actually increase the risk of injury
While it might be frustrating for a teenager to take off their jewellery before work, especially if it is their favourite form of self-expression, employers must prioritize workers’ health and safety above all else. If your teen feels annoyed by this rule, remind them that their jewellery can pose serious risks when combined with workplace hazards. It’s a good idea to take their jewellery off at certain jobs, or alternatively, tie, cover or secure it to prevent it from becoming tangled or caught.
According to a Government of Canada report on hand injuries, it is dangerous to wear rings at work. “If the ring is forced off or breaks, it may pull the flesh from the finger or amputate it.” The report also mentions long hair, loose clothing, dangling accessories, and jewellery can pose a serious risk when caught in machinery.
Safety gear should always be available and worn
While other health and safety methods are more effective, like eliminating hazards completely, personal protective equipment (or PPE) is the last line of defense to protect workers from serious injuries or death. Employers must provide equipment, materials and protective devices (like helmets, shoes, safety vests, goggles, gloves, face shields and protective clothing) and ensure they are used and maintained as prescribed.
They don’t have to wear anything that impedes their health and safety
On the flip side, employers can’t enforce dress codes that may be to the detriment of the employees’ health. In 2017, B.C. and Ontario passed new laws that forbid workplace dress code footwear requirements unless for safety reasons. In short: No, your teen’s employer can’t tell them that they “must” wear high heels to do their job. If your teen is told they are required to wear something at work, they have the right to question whether it is for health and safety reasons.
Safeguarding your teen's health and safety at their first job, and beyond, involves understanding the vital role of uniform policies. As a parent, it’s important to communicate the benefits of uniform requirements and removing or securing jewellery. Highlight how these steps can protect them from injury, illness or worse – no matter how “unfashionable” it may be.