{"id":2757,"date":"2023-02-08T07:55:22","date_gmt":"2023-02-08T15:55:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/?post_type=engagement&#038;p=2757"},"modified":"2023-04-13T08:01:19","modified_gmt":"2023-04-13T15:01:19","slug":"hazardous-work-protections-for-youth","status":"publish","type":"engagement","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/hazardous-work-protections-for-youth\/","title":{"rendered":"Hazardous Work Protections for Youth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group engage-banner has-background\" style=\"background-color:#fbda80\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Engagement was open April 21 to June 17, 2022<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-center is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1222\" height=\"777\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-2762\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/HazardousWorkYouth1.png\" style=\"object-position:50% 21%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 21%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/HazardousWorkYouth1.png 1222w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/HazardousWorkYouth1-300x191.png 300w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/HazardousWorkYouth1-1024x651.png 1024w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/HazardousWorkYouth1-768x488.png 768w, https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/HazardousWorkYouth1-1200x763.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1222px) 100vw, 1222px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-container\"><div class=\"engagement-page\"><div class=\"engagement-content-wrapper\"><h1 class=\"engagement-title-banner \" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/themes\/bcgov-engagement\/dist\/images\/blue-curve-bg.svg)\">Hazardous Work Protections for Youth<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-engagement-content\"><bcgov-breadcrumb>\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\">Home<\/a>\n                      <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/\">Engagement Opportunities<\/a> \n                  <span>\n        Hazardous Work Protections for Youth\n  <\/span>\n  <div style=\"display: flex\" slot=\"breadcrumb-extra\">\n      <\/div>\n  <\/bcgov-breadcrumb>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">On this page&#8230;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#summary\" title=\"\">Engagement Summary<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#results\" title=\"\">Results<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Who: <\/strong>The Ministry of Labour and youth workers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>What: <\/strong>Changes to age restrictions for hazardous work<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Where:<\/strong> Province-wide<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why:<\/strong> To align with international labour standards and protect young workers<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How: <\/strong>Online<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"taxonomy-engagement_category wp-block-post-terms\"><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__prefix\"><strong>Category: <\/strong><\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/economy-and-jobs\/\" rel=\"tag\">Economy and Jobs<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/law-and-public-safety\/\" rel=\"tag\">Law and Public Safety<\/a><span class=\"wp-block-post-terms__separator\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement_category\/multi-language\/\" rel=\"tag\">Multi-language<\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><span role=\"img\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"engagement-image\" style=\"background-image:url(https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/01\/51323331119_d583363a80_o-scaled.jpg);background-position:57.99999999999999% 35%\"><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns more-padding-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"summary\">Engagement Summary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Government has been strengthening B.C.\u2019s employment laws to better protect young people at work. The general working age has been increased from 12 to 16, and \u201clight work\u201d has been defined for those jobs that can be safely performed by children who are 14 and 15, with parental permission. The changes also allow children 12 and over to work for a family business or farm, provided the tasks are safe as set out in the Employment Standards Regulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These changes have brought B.C. into alignment with international labour standards aimed at protecting children from dangerous or unsuitable work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The final phase of these changes, which was the subject of this public engagement, was to examine and define the kinds of work considered too hazardous for young workers under the age of 16, or under 19 if a higher minimum age than 16 is specified for a particular type of hazardous work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Ministry of Labour reviewed regulations in other Canadian jurisdictions, as well as WorkSafeBC injury statistics for adult and young workers, and identified a number of jobs to consider placing under a regulation that would set minimum ages for work considered hazardous for young people. Based on this review and the feedback the Ministry received, minimum ages of 16 or 18 were adopted for the work described below. While the work can safely be undertaken by adults, a level of maturity and judgment is required to properly assess risks and use personal protective equipment and safety controls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure youth can still access important apprenticeship and training opportunities, the age restrictions will not apply to industry training programs overseen by SkilledTradesBC, or school-based work experience programs. The regulations come into effect on Jan. 1, 2023, so that employers have time to adjust the work performed by existing young employees. As well, current employees who will be the required age by April 1, 2023 will be able to keep working.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"results\">Results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>319 complete survey responses were received. The survey was offered in English, Punjabi, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Following public and stakeholder consultations, government has amended the Employment Standards Regulation, effective Jan. 1, 2023, to prescribe minimum ages of 16 or 18 for certain types of work that is too hazardous for younger workers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A minimum age of 16 to undertake the following activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Construction<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Silviculture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Forest firefighting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Working from heights that require fall protection.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A minimum age of 18 to undertake the following activities:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tree falling and logging<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Using a chainsaw<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work in a production process at a pulp, paper, saw, shake or shingle mill<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work in a production process at a foundry, metal processing or metal fabrication operation, refinery or smelter<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Powerline construction or maintenance where an electrical hazard exists<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Oil or gas well servicing and drilling<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work with dangerous equipment in fish, meat or poultry processing facilities<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Silica process\/exposure to silica dust<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work in which a worker is or may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of asbestos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Exposure to harmful levels of radiation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Working in a confined space or underground workings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Work requiring a respirator<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Read the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/10\/Hazardous-Work-for-Youth-WWH-Report.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">What We Heard Report<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Related engagements<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"related-engagements\">\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Infrastructure Projects Act. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Housing and Infrastructure, Natural Resources. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/infrastructure\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Infrastructure Projects Act                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Housing and Infrastructure<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resources<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/infrastructure\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/06\/AdobeStock_201965916-scaled.jpeg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Angling, Hunting, and Trapping. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Environmental Protection, Natural Resource Sector, Recreation and Tourism, Wildlife and Habitat Protection. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Angling, Hunting, and Trapping                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Environmental Protection<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Natural Resource Sector<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Recreation and Tourism<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Wildlife and Habitat Protection<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/angling-hunting-and-trapping\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2022\/12\/52020102588_38f5f124ed_o.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Legal Professions Regulatory Reform. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Law and Public Safety. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Legal Professions Regulatory Reform                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Law and Public Safety<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/legal-professions-reform\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2023\/02\/LegalProfessions2.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: AI Adoption in B.C.. Categories: Economy and Jobs. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/ai-adoption-in-bc\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        AI Adoption in B.C.                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/ai-adoption-in-bc\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/07\/AI-Adoption-banner.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: The Future of WorkBC. Categories: Economy and Jobs, Education and Training, Families and Residents. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/the-future-of-workbc\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        The Future of WorkBC                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Education and Training<\/span>\n                                                    <span class=\"category-pill\">Families and Residents<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/the-future-of-workbc\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2025\/05\/Employment-Services-Banner-sm-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n                                    <div class=\"govtogether-engagement-card\" aria-label=\"Engagement title: Labour Relations Code Review 2024. Categories: Economy and Jobs. Status: Closed.\">\n            <div class=\"card-header\">\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-status status-closed\">\n                                            Closed                                     <\/div>\n\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/labour-relations-code-review\/\" class=\"engagement-title\">\n                        Labour Relations Code Review 2024                <\/a>\n\n                <div class=\"engagement-categories\">\n                                                                        <span class=\"category-pill\">Economy and Jobs<\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                \n            <\/div>\n\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/engagement\/labour-relations-code-review\/\" class=\"card-image-container\">\n                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"engagement-thumbnail\" src=\"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/app\/uploads\/sites\/121\/2024\/02\/images-for-LRC-engagement-1.png\" \/>\n            <\/a>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-govtogether-engagement-header\"><div class=\"text-column\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div><div class=\"image-column\"><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":64807,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","engagement_category":[252,247,447],"engagement_region":[192],"engagement_status":[207],"engagement_pin_group":[],"class_list":["post-2757","engagement","type-engagement","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","engagement_category-economy-and-jobs","engagement_category-law-and-public-safety","engagement_category-multi-language","engagement_region-province-wide","engagement_status-closed-with-results"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"pinned_engagement_toggle":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/2757","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/engagement"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/2757\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63787,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement\/2757\/revisions\/63787"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/64807"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2757"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"engagement_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_category?post=2757"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_region","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_region?post=2757"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_status?post=2757"},{"taxonomy":"engagement_pin_group","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/govtogetherbc\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/engagement_pin_group?post=2757"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}