New and young workers in Ontario are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job than at any other time.

From May 1 to August 31, 2015, Ministry of Labour inspectors conducted a health and safety enforcement blitz in the industrial sector focusing on:

• young workers aged 14 to 24 and
• new workers^[1] who were on the job for less than six months or assigned to a new job

Inspectors checked that employers were complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) and its regulations.

The goals of the blitz were to:

• ensure employers advise new and young workers of hazards in the workplace
• raise awareness of the OHSA rights and responsibilities for new and young workers
• encourage employers to identify and control hazards
• address and remedy non-compliance with the OHSA and its regulations
• deter non-compliant employers
• enhance health and safety partnerships
• promote improved health and safety for new and young workers

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