Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board is warning of rising workplace injury rates among young workers as summer hiring ramps up
Ontario's Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) has launched its 2026 #PracticeSafeWork campaign. It targets young people aged 15 to 24 entering the summer workforce. Young worker safety risks rise sharply at this time of year.
The campaign runs June 15 to August 30, 2026. It uses humorous animal-animation videos to reach young workers where they spend time. Platforms include Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, Sirius XM, Amazon Prime Video, and cinema screens across Ontario.
WSIB President and CEO Jeff Lang frames the message plainly.
"Every year, we do our best to remind young people that workplace injuries can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime," Lang said. "Our videos are funny but deliver a serious message — unsafe work practices can get you injured or killed."
The numbers behind the campaign
Between 2016 and 2025, 97 young Ontarians aged 15 to 24 lost their lives to work-related causes, according to the WSIB. Seven of those deaths occurred in 2025. That same year, approximately 30,000 young people were injured at work. More than 12,000 sustained injuries serious enough to require time away from the job.
Sprains and strains are the leading injury type in this age group. They make up more than 30 per cent of all claims, per WSIB data. Cuts, lacerations, bruises, contusions, and concussions are also commonly reported.
The sectors recording the most young worker injuries follow a consistent pattern. The services sector leads at 40 per cent of incidents. Manufacturing accounts for 15 per cent and construction for 11 per cent.
The job roles at highest risk are worth noting for safety professionals. They include retail salespeople, material handlers, food counter attendants, and kitchen helpers. Nurse aides, patient service associates, and construction trades helpers and labourers also feature prominently.
What the campaign offers workers and employers
The WSIB campaign website, practicesafework.ca, gives young workers and their parents a practical resource. It outlines how to stay safe on the job. It also explains what to ask an employer before starting and what to do after an injury.
The site connects to Safety Check, a WSIB tool open to anyone. It shows the number and types of injuries recorded at any Ontario employer covered by the board.
The campaign places particular weight on worker rights. Under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), young workers have the right to:
- know about workplace hazards
- participate in safety decisions
- refuse unsafe work
Those managing young worker onboarding and workplace injury prevention programs will find those three rights worth reinforcing with new hires.
If a young worker is hurt, the WSIB covers wage replacement and medical costs. It also supports a safe return to work when the time is right.
Why this matters to safety leaders
New and young workers face higher injury risk than more experienced colleagues. Workers starting a new job are three times more likely to be hurt in their first month than at any other time, according to Ontario Ministry of Labour data. The WSIB's seasonal outreach aims to close that gap before summer hiring peaks.
The challenge for safety officers extends beyond the workers themselves. Parent communication, employer readiness, and sector-specific onboarding all shape whether a young person starts the job knowing their rights.
Those looking to reinforce internal protocols can consult Canadian Occupational Safety's guide on the most common preventable workplace accidents. It covers injury types most likely to affect entry-level workers.
The WSIB says its goal is straightforward. If young workers do get hurt, the board is there to help. If they don't, the campaign will have done its job.
