Image: Canadian Press / The provincial government will introduce new regulations on the type of work that young workers can do in certain industries, like logging, construction and oil and gas, starting January 1, 2023.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Youth work rules

B.C. govt. to outlaw certain jobs for teenagers starting in January

Dec 28, 2022 | 10:04 AM

VICTORIA — The provincial government will introduce new regulations on the types of work that it deems unsuitable for young workers in the new year.

Starting January 1, new guidelines take effect that would outlaw certain jobs for youth in the construction, forestry, and gas and power industries, among others.

The new rules outline certain jobs that require a minimum age of 18, such as work as a logger, jobs in smelters, in oil drilling or where there is a risk of exposure to certain harmful materials. For construction work, fish processing and some animal processing work, a minimum age of 16 is deemed appropriate.

Following public and stakeholder consultations and analyses of injury data, a number of jobs within several industries were identified as too hazardous for young workers, the province said in a news release Wednesday (Dec. 28). This includes some jobs within construction, forestry, food processing, oil and gas and power, and asbestos removal.

Amendments to the Employment Standards Regulation were announced in October 2022.

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To ensure youth can still access important apprenticeship and training opportunities, the age restrictions do not apply to industry training programs overseen by SkilledTradesBC. As well, current employees who reach the prescribed age by April 1, 2023, are excluded from the age requirements.

With an effective date of Jan. 1, 2023, employers have been provided time to adjust the work performed by existing young employees.

* In B.C. the average annual injury rate in 2021 was 2.2 per 100 workers, but some jobs have much higher injury rates. For example, framers in the construction industry have an injury rate of 7.8 per 100 workers;

* Workers in abattoirs have an injury rate of 15.7 per 100 workers; and manual tree fallers/buckers have an injury rate of almost 20 per 100 workers.

* Between 2012 and 2021, WorkSafeBC data revealed that more than $26.4 million was paid out in job-related disability claims for workers who were aged 16 to 18 at the time of their injury.

by Mike Vanden Bosch

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B.C. govt. to outlaw certain jobs for teenagers starting in January

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