Abstract

Young people from 15 to 24 years of age work 10% of the hours worked by all workers; 16% of them will suffer an occupational injury. Their involvement is extensively in the retail sales, accommodation and food services sectors, where they are often exposed to several organizational constraints (irregular schedules, low pay, etc.) or physical constraints (repetitive work, physical effort, noise, etc.). Combined constraints are associated with an increase in the occupational accident rate, even more significantly in young people.
These are only some of the data emerging from Opération JeuneSST, initiated by the IRSST in 2004, and that laid the foundation for the development of research on young workers’ occupational health and safety. In the last twenty years, several studies have demonstrated that workers under 25 years of age injure themselves often enough for this situation to become a public health concern in Canada, the United States, and Europe. In Québec, this observation is increasingly prompting the CSST and its partners to develop an action plan intended specifically for this population. It was along these lines that the IRSST began reflection and established Opération JeuneSST.
After two years of research and consultation, the authors were able to establish four targets in young people’s OHS for supporting partners, workplaces and researchers in their preventive actions:
• exemplary learning environments from the OHS standpoint
• entry into employment that provides the safe and competent integration of young people
• working conditions that contribute to the preservation of their health
• approaches to health and safety awareness adapted to young workers.