In B.C., young worker deaths and serious injuries have been increasing. In 2006, 12 young workers died on the job, and the injury rate for young workers is more than twice that of the overall population. Young workers need adequate training on the job to ensure their own safety and awareness of potentially hazardous situations.
Since January 2006, the B.C. Federation of Labour has been campaigning for stronger safety regulations for late night retail workers. The lack of safety faced by these workers was highlighted by the deaths of Grant Depatie and Brigette Serre, two young late night workers who lost their lives to workplace violence while working alone.
In June 2007, the B.C. Federation of Labour participated in WCB hearings soliciting feedback on proposed regulatory amendments, including those to the regulations governing working alone. For information on their successful campaign, go to http://bcfed.ca/issues/workingalone