Was your teen injured at work? Here are the next steps to take

Susan Johnston, who worked at an oil refinery for two summers in a row when she was 19 and 20, remembers feeling like she was on the set of Terminator. “I worked in a giant warehouse where we filled oil drums or bottles,” she says. “When filling oil drums…sometimes I would forget to release the pressure from a line and the pipe would come off very fast. This would also send oil everywhere. I remember the pipe hitting me in the abdomen and leaving a mark that lasted for weeks."

While she remembers receiving safety training and wearing protective gear, she also recognizes the innate danger of the job (for which the most common hazard is actually fire and explosion due to ignition of flammable vapours or gasses).

“Filling the drums was probably the least safe thing I did,” she says. “The machinery was big and making a mistake was easy.”

While illness and injuries may be common in dangerous jobs like oil refineries, they can happen at any workplace. That means they can happen to your teen (even at the “safest” job). If your child is affected by a work-related injury or illness, these are the steps to take in Ontario.

What should happen when your teen gets hurt at work?

If your child is injured or experiences an occupational illness (a health issue caused by hazards on the job) at work, be prepared to help them through the process and make sure they aren’t intimidated.

According to Ontario’s Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), if your teen finds themselves in a situation like Johnston’s, where they’ve been injured at work, they should follow these steps.

Steps to take if your child is injured on the job

1. They should seek medical help immediately (whether it’s calling 911 or getting an ice pack).

2. They should notify their employer immediately if they seek outside medical attention. If they only need first aid (like a band-aid or ice pack) the injury may just be recorded in their workplace’s first aid log book. They should also tell their supervisor if they are getting first aid.

3. Their employer is responsible for reporting the injury to WSIB (form 7)  if it meets WSIB reporting requirements. Your child’s doctor should also submit a form.

4. Their employer must stay in touch with WSIB.

5. After their employer submits their form, your teen must give the WSIB their documentation via a Worker’s report of injury/disease (form 6). Then, the WSIB will decide whether it is considered work-related and if your teen is entitled to compensation.