Island students recently completed the Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I.’s OHS leadership program, equipping them to educate peers about workplace safety. Led by Abby Peters, a Grade 12 student at Kensington Intermediate Senior High School, the initiative aimed to raise awareness among young workers. Through active participation, students gained skills to address safety concerns in their workplaces.
A group of Island students now possess the skills to educate other young people about workplace safety.
Abby Peters, a Grade 12 student at Kensington Intermediate Senior High School, expressed, “I think young workers sometimes feel scared to ask questions.”
Peters, along with 21 other students from across the province, actively participated in the Workers Compensation Board of P.E.I.’s occupational health and safety (OHS) leadership program.
She noted, “Young workers often lack sufficient education about workplace safety when they enter the workforce. So, I saw this program as an excellent opportunity to help them take the first step.”
The program began in February with an orientation where students learned the ins and outs of workplace safety and the rights and responsibilities of workers.
After that, they hosted a series of educational events at their schools and shared what they’d learned with their peers.
“When I talk to the young workers I always want to be sure that they understand it’s OK to be curious and ask about the hazards in the workplace,” Peters said.
She and Haven Woodside, another participant from KISH, gave a class presentation on workplace safety as one of their events.
Woodside expressed her motivation, stating, “Being part of this program allowed me to educate others on workplace rights, something I didn’t grasp in my early years.”
Additional activities comprised a photo session employing personal protective gear as props and an online trivia game featuring workplace safety inquiries.
Speaking up isn’t always easy
Erin Carver, the OHS youth consultant at the Workers Compensation Board and leader of the program, highlighted the challenge young workers face in voicing safety concerns. Empowering them to do so is a fundamental aspect of the program’s curriculum. “I always emphasize to them: ‘If you’re unsure or untrained for a task, or if you feel unsafe, you have the right to refuse that work.'”
Carver noted that younger workers often bear the brunt of undesirable tasks, particularly if an older colleague, especially one in authority, passes them off. They might end up with physically demanding or confined-space assignments. Carver highlighted how older workers might dismiss safety protocols with excuses like, “We’ve always done it this way without problems.” She stressed the importance of adherence to safety measures, especially considering potential risks and injuries.