YOUNG WORKER SAFETY IN ONTARIO CONSTRUCTION — AGE RESTRICTIONS AND TRAINING

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Every summer and throughout the year, young workers enter Ontario's construction industry — through apprenticeships, co-op placements, summer jobs, and entry-level labourer positions. They bring energy and willingness, but they also bring inexperience, and inexperience on a construction site can be fatal.

Young workers aged 15 to 24 are injured at work at a rate significantly higher than older workers in Ontario. In construction specifically, the combination of physical hazards, complex equipment, and fast-paced work environments creates elevated risk for workers who have not yet developed the judgment that comes with experience. Ontario law and best practices exist to protect these workers — but only if employers know the rules and follow them.

Legal Minimum Age Requirements

Ontario's employment standards and occupational health and safety laws set minimum age requirements for different types of work. For construction, the rules are straightforward but important.

• Age 14 — limited work only — under Ontario's Employment Standards Act, young people aged 14 and 15 may perform limited types of work, but they are restricted from most construction activities. At this age, work must not be performed during school hours and is limited to light tasks that do not involve hazardous conditions. On a construction site, there are very few tasks that would qualify.
• Age 16 — eligible for construction work — workers aged 16 and older may be employed on construction projects in Ontario, subject to all applicable safety requirements. At 16, a worker can begin an apprenticeship, work as a general labourer, or participate in a co-op placement on a construction site.
• Age 18 — no restrictions — at 18, there are no age-based employment restrictions. However, all the training, supervision, and safety requirements that apply to any construction worker still apply regardless of age.

Age alone does not make a worker competent. A 16-year-old who has received proper training and close supervision may be better prepared than a 30-year-old who has received neither. The obligation is on the employer to ensure competency, regardless of age.

Prohibited Tasks for Young Workers

While Ontario does not maintain a single comprehensive list of prohibited tasks for young construction workers (unlike some jurisdictions), several regulations and best practices effectively restrict what young and inexperienced workers should do.

• Confined space entry — confined space work requires specialized training, rescue planning, and atmospheric monitoring. Young workers without this training and experience must not enter confined spaces.
• Operation of heavy equipment — operating cranes, excavators, forklifts, and other heavy equipment requires specific training and certification. Young workers should not operate this equipment until they have completed the required training and have been assessed as competent by a qualified supervisor.
• Electrical work — only licensed electricians or apprentices under direct supervision should perform electrical work. Young workers should never be assigned electrical tasks they are not trained and authorized to perform.
• Demolition — demolition work involves significant hazards including structural collapse, falling objects, and exposure to hazardous materials (asbestos, lead, silica). Young and inexperienced workers should not be assigned to demolition tasks without extensive training and close supervision.
• Work at heights without training — any worker, regardless of age, who may use fall protection on a construction project must have completed approved Working at Heights training. Young workers are not exempt from this requirement.

Mandatory Orientation and Training

Ontario law requires specific training for all construction workers, and employers should go beyond the minimum for young workers who lack experience and hazard recognition skills.

• Basic health and safety awareness training — every worker on an Ontario construction project must complete a health and safety awareness training program as required under O. Reg. 297/13. This free online program covers workers' rights, employer obligations, and the role of the JHSC and health and safety representative. It must be completed before the worker begins work.
• Site-specific orientation — before a young worker starts on any project, they should receive a thorough site orientation covering the specific hazards of that site, emergency procedures, the location of first aid stations, the names and roles of supervisors, and the site rules. This is not a 10-minute walkthrough — it should be a structured orientation with documentation.
• Working at Heights — if the young worker will perform any task that could expose them to a fall hazard requiring fall protection, they must complete an MLITSD-approved Working at Heights training program before starting the work.
• WHMIS — if the worker will handle or work near hazardous products, WHMIS training is mandatory. Given the prevalence of hazardous products on construction sites (adhesives, solvents, concrete additives, fuels), virtually every young construction worker needs WHMIS training.
• Task-specific training — before assigning a young worker to any new task, the supervisor must provide instruction on how to perform the task safely, what hazards to watch for, and what PPE is required. This instruction must be provided even for tasks that seem simple.

The Mentorship and Buddy System

Training alone is not enough for young workers. They need ongoing mentorship and close supervision, especially during their first months on the job.

• Assign a mentor — pair each young worker with an experienced worker who can guide them, answer questions, and model safe work practices. The mentor should be someone who takes safety seriously and has the patience to teach, not just someone who happens to be nearby.
• Never leave young workers unsupervised — during the first weeks and months, a young worker should always have direct access to their mentor or supervisor. They should know who to go to with questions and should feel comfortable asking — because the alternative is guessing, and guessing on a construction site gets people hurt.
• Gradual task progression — start young workers with lower-risk tasks and gradually increase complexity as they demonstrate competence. Do not throw a first-week labourer into a high-risk operation because the crew is short-handed.
• Regular check-ins — supervisors should check in with young workers multiple times per day during the first weeks, and at least daily thereafter. Ask open-ended questions: "What are you working on? What hazards have you noticed? Do you have the right PPE?" These check-ins build awareness and reinforce the importance of safety.

The First 90 Days — When Risk Is Highest

Research consistently shows that new workers — regardless of age — are most vulnerable during their first three months on the job. For young workers in construction, this vulnerability is amplified.

• Injury statistics — according to data from the WSIB and the Institute for Work and Health, new workers are three times more likely to be injured during their first month on the job compared to workers with more than a year of experience. For young workers aged 15 to 24 in construction, the injury rate during the first 90 days is even higher.
• Why the first 90 days are dangerous — new workers have not yet learned to recognize hazards that experienced workers identify instinctively. They may not know how to use equipment properly, may be reluctant to ask questions or refuse unsafe work, and may overestimate their abilities to impress their new employer.
• Mitigating the risk — intensive supervision, structured orientation, mentorship, and gradual task progression during the first 90 days are the most effective ways to reduce injury risk for young and new workers. Some employers implement a formal "90-day safety plan" with documented check-ins and milestone reviews.

Employer Obligations Under the OHSA

Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act places clear obligations on employers to protect all workers — with young workers requiring particular attention.

• Provide information, instruction, and supervision — section 25(2)(a) of the OHSA requires employers to provide information, instruction, and supervision to protect the health and safety of workers. For young workers, this means more instruction, more supervision, and more follow-up than you would provide to an experienced journeyperson.
• Ensure competency — employers must ensure that workers are competent to perform the tasks assigned to them. Competency is not just about training — it includes the knowledge, skill, and judgment to do the work safely. A young worker who has completed a training course but has never applied the skills in the field is trained but not yet competent. The gap must be closed through supervised practice.
• Maintain a safe workplace — employers must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers. When young workers are present, the circumstances demand additional precautions — closer supervision, more frequent safety checks, and more conservative task assignments.
• Inform workers of hazards — employers must advise workers of the existence of any potential or actual danger to their health and safety. Do not assume a young worker knows that a trench can collapse, that a power line can arc, or that concrete dust causes silicosis. Tell them. Show them. Then verify that they understood.

Building the Next Generation Safely

The construction industry needs young workers. Retirements, growth, and labour shortages make it essential to bring new workers into the trades. But bringing them in safely is not just a legal obligation — it is a moral one. Every young worker who enters your site is someone's child, sibling, or friend. They are trusting you with their safety.

Invest in their training, provide real mentorship, supervise closely, and build a culture where asking questions is encouraged, not mocked. The payoff is a safer site, a more skilled workforce, and workers who will carry those safety habits for the rest of their careers.