The following organizations…
Yukon Workers’ Compensation Health and Safety Board
Skookum Asphalt
Yukon Energy Corporation
Skills Canada Yukon
The Dawson City International Short Film Festival
Take pleasure in announcing the first annual Young Worker Safety Student Video Contest.
The purpose of the contest is to encourage Yukon youth to take an active interest in their health and safety at work.
Young workers, under the age of 25, are at higher risk of workplace injury than older, more experienced workers.
Studies show that the pre frontal cortex, the part of the brain where judgement calls are made, is not fully developed until age 25, on average.
Every year in Canada, approximately 60,000 young workers are injured and more than 50 are killed.
In Yukon, about 15 percent of the workforce is composed of young workers under the age of 25 years, which also represents about 15 percent of accepted claims. However, those young workers represent significantly less than 15 percent of hours worked.
Last year, 306 of those young workers reported being injured at work and 166 of those workers had accepted claims.
These injuries were preventable.
Yukon high school students throughout the territory, including those who are members of Skills Canada Yukon skills clubs are invited to make short videos (up to 60 seconds) on the theme “common workplace hazards.”
Cash prizes ranging from $300 to $1,000 will be awarded to participating schools or skills clubs and to the student filmmakers.
As well, winners of the Skookum Asphalt First Prize (grades 8 – 10) and the Yukon Energy Corporation First Prize (grades 11 – 12) will be screened at the 2009 Dawson City International Short Film Festival.
Darrell Stone of Skookum Asphalt says his company is supporting this initiative because “we firmly believe that teaching our young citizens about safety will ultimately result in fewer injuries when they enter the work force. It is so very important that they learn the proper mind set at an early age of what is right or wrong when it comes to safety, before they learn bad habits that could cause them or someone else harm.”
“Safety is one of Yukon Energy’s core values. It is a part of every decision we make and every action we take,” Yukon Energy spokesperson Janet Patterson said. “It’s important to us that young people learn about safety in the workplace and we feel this video contest is a creative and fun way for that learning to take place.”
All contest entrants’ names will be entered into a draw to win a digital video camera.
The Young Worker Safety Student Video Contest complements efforts YWCHSB is making in Yukon high schools through its “Work Shouldn’t Hurt” course.
This course is offered to Planning 10 classes in Whitehorse and in communities with high school programs. The “Work Shouldn’t Hurt” program is also among employer courses offered by Northern Safety Network Yukon.
Contest details, including submission guidelines and entry forms, are available at www.wcb.yk.ca and www.skillsyukon.com.
Contact:
Karen Walker,
Young Worker Safety Coordinator
Phone: (867) 456-6530
Email: karen.walker@gov.yk.ca
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