Hello
I bet you can remember your very first paid job. For most of us, our first jobs bring both good and bad experiences, and either way we learn a lot. But for a few students and young workers, that first work experience spells tragedy. At this time of year there is a surge of high school and post-secondary students and new graduates starting new jobs. Please, please, keep them safe.
Why focus on young worker safety?
One workplace tragedy is too many, whether the worker is 6 weeks from retirement, or 6 days into their first job. But at this time of year, young workers are particularly at risk. And in 2022 especially, with workforce shortages and the economy re-opening, there are many students and young workers starting seasonal jobs and new careers. So many of our Threads of Life families understand all too well why you should focus on young worker safety. At Threads of Life we don’t consider ourselves health and safety experts, but we are experts on the impact of work-related tragedy. No one – whether it’s the worker, their family, friends, the employer or co-workers – wants to go through what these families have experienced:


And too many more.
Survey reveals gaps in safety orientation for young workers
A new national Young Workers Survey conducted among members of the Angus Reid Forum on behalf of Threads of Life found a majority of businesses plan to hire as many or more young workers in 2022 than they have in the past two years. Although 69 per cent of employers reported they have an orientation program for new employees, only half - 51 per cent - have a safety program.
 
“It was reassuring to see that many of the employers have an orientation program for new employees, and more than half have a safety program,” observed Shirley Hickman, Executive Director of Threads of Life, a non-profit organization that supports families dealing with workplace injuries and death. “But we worry about the safety of young people working for businesses that do not have safety programs - and particularly the 19 per cent of employers who reported no orientation, onboarding, emergency or safety training in place for new employees.”
Congratulations to our Challenge winners
... and all of you!
This spring we called, and you answered loud and clear. Through your incredible support for Steps for Life-Walking for Families of Workplace Tragedy, you let us know how much you value health and safety and care about families affected by workplace tragedy. You far surpassed our goal for 2022, and in fact, you set a new record! Steps for Life 2022 raised the most funds ever in the history of Steps for Life. Thank you so much for your support. Every dollar represented on that Steps for Life thermometer will be used to help ease the journey for someone who has experienced a workplace tragedy – and we all know that tragedies continue to happen every single day. Over the two years of the pandemic, more than 300 new family members came to Threads of Life for support – that’s on top of the thousands we were already serving. The need is great, and your gift of your time, energy and dollars will make such an incredible difference.

Congratulations to each of you for all you accomplished, and a special thank you to the winners of our Team Challenge! Learn the top national and regional team and individual fundraisers here.
ICYMI: On the blog
Threads of Life families call for better safety for...

2022 seems like an ideal time to be a student or young worker looking for a job. There are 'help wanted' signs everywhere, and employers are desperate to fill vacant positions. First job opportunities are a great chance to grow, and it's vital...

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Imagining a wonderful world | Threads of Life

Here we are once more marking Safety and Health Week. Companies and organizations across Canada, the United States and Mexico come together to create awareness of workplace safety. One question that's always on my mind: Why do we need a special...

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