TORONTO, June 21, 2016- New and young workers in Ontario are three times more likely to be injured and that’s why Parachute has launched #Safe4Life, an Ontario-wide, social media campaign designed to educate Canadian youth about workplace safety.

A poll, which includes 500 young workers, finds nearly half of them (aged 16-19) admit they would be embarrassed to ask about workplace safety hazards, and nearly one quarter of young people say they don’t understand worker rights.

Over half of young people who currently work, or have worked before say they were not given safety equipment; among those who were properly equipped, only 35% use it most of the time.

“Every day in Ontario, an average 20 workers under the age of 25 sustain lost-time injuries, or are unfortunately killed on the job. New workers are more likely to be injured and less likely to question safety practices in their workplaces,” says Louise Logan, Parachute President & CEO. “We want to change the conversation and encourage young workers to stay #Safe4Life.”

This time of year, many students are beginning summer jobs. #Safe4Life offers a virtual space where youth can ask questions and openly discuss experiences with workplace safety.

“Our youth are our future, and as such, we must ensure that we do our utmost to protect them. Young workers need to be properly trained, supervised and protected – including ensuring they wear the necessary protective equipment. As long as one son or daughter in Ontario fails to come home at the end of their shift, we all must continue to remain vigilant.”

Join the conversation: find us on Instagram @parachutecanada and tweet, using the hashtag #Safe4Life. For more information, visit safe4life.work.

About Parachute

Parachute is a national charity helping Canadians stop the clock on preventable injuries. The injury impact is staggering. Preventable injuries are the #1 killer of children. They cost the Canadian economy $27B a year, and worst of all, one child dies every nine hours. Through education, knowledge and empowerment, Parachute is working to save lives and create an injury-free Canada. For information, visit us at parachutecanada.org, follow us on Twitter, or join us on Facebook.

For information:

Andrea Piunno, Parachute

647-776-5134

apiunno@parachutecanada.org

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