Workplace safety

What you'll need

• "Workplace safety" student handout, distribute digitally or print and provide links to the following:
  • WorkSafeBC Photo Challenge
  • Getting a job and safety
  • 6 minute safety talks
  • Electrical safety at work
• "Summer job plan" student handout, one copy per student
• "Stay safe while working near overhead power lines" video
• Videos on jobs with BC Hydro:
  • Power Line Technician
  • Communications, protection, and control technologist
  • Electrician

Introduction to electricity and workplace safety

1. Start with a discussion about electricity, how it moves through power lines, and how to stay safe around electricity outdoors. Ask students:
   • What is the electricity doing when live powerlines touch the ground? When they touch a tree? A car? Have a discussion about electric currents including that if a ladder touches a power line and you touch the ladder, the current will move through you to get to the ground, which is life threatening. 
   • What are safety precautions to take when coming across a downed power line? Introduce students to Down. Danger. Dial 911, and discuss that if there is a downed power line, it is dangerous and you need to move away by shuffling your feet, to a distance of at least 10 metres and dial 911. It is important to shuffle as the voltage from the electrical current decreases in concentric rings as you move away from the source. If you shuffle the voltage difference will not be able to move up one leg and down the other.
   • What are safety precautions to take when working around power lines? Consider situations like not leaning ladders on power lines, keeping a safe distance of 3 metres away from power lines, and investigating where the overhead and underground power lines are before beginning work. It’s important to know if and where underground power lines are before digging. Also discuss safety equipment and appropriate clothing. 
   • Why are power lines located high on poles and out of reach? The power lines are not insulated and there are thousands of volts travelling through these live power lines. This is why it’s important to stay at least three metres away from power lines.
2. Watch this video about staying safe when working around power lines.
3. Continue with a discussion about workplace safety and how working around power lines can be dangerous, but there are many other workplace safety concerns around electricity in jobs like landscaping, construction, retail, and the service industry. Share details about youth workplace safety and invite discussion and inquiry:
   • According to WorkSafeBC, young people aged 15-25 are particularly at risk for workplace accidents. Why? Some reasons can include inexperience, lack of training, orientation and supervision, lack of understanding of their workplace, lack of preparation for the workplace, exposure to more dangerous jobs, and hesitancy to ask questions.
   • As a worker we have rights. Ask students to share what they think their rights in a workplace are. Worker rights include being provided with information, instruction and training about safety and recognizing hazards, having appropriate supervision, equipment, safety gear and the right to refuse to perform unsafe work.
   • As a worker we also have responsibilities. Ask students to share what they think their responsibilities are. Worker responsibilities include asking for instruction if unsure how to perform a task safely, using all safety gear and protective clothing when required, following safe work procedures, immediately correct or report unsafe conditions, and report any physical or mental conditions that may make someone unable to work safely.
   • Invite students to share a workplace situation where they have felt unsafe. What did you do? Do you think you should/could have done anything differently? What skills/tools/information would help you to speak up in a dangerous situation? 

     
     

Workplace scenarios

1. In pairs, provide students with the “Workplace safety” student handout.
2. First, ask students to go to the WorkSafeBC interactive photo activity and identify safety hazards and dangerous work habits to avoid. 
3. Second, ask students to consider the listed workplace safety scenarios, discuss and record how to respond, be responsible and stay safe. Inquiry questions include: consider what could you do? are you concerned you might lose your job if you speak up? who would you go to for help? how could you phrase your concerns so you can be heard? what information/resources could you to help you speak up? As they consider how to handle these situations have students review the listed resources to help.
4. Each scenario provides an opportunity to practice presenting their concerns, staying safe, and accessing necessary safety tools.
5. Debrief the activity and ask students what in each of those scenarios they would find easy to address and what they would find challenging, and discuss why.

Summer jobs

1. Provide each student with the “Summer job” student handout. 
2. This activity provides students with an opportunity to research a summer job they are interested in and create a personal safety plan. 
3. In their plans, students will identify a job of interest, necessary safety equipment/gear required, necessary safety training expected, potential injuries, potential electrical safety concerns, a plan for communicating safety concerns and what might prevent them from speaking up and communicating their concerns.

Careers with BC Hydro

1. Share one or more videos about jobs with BC Hydro:
   • Power Line Technician
   • Communications, protection, and control technologist
   • Electrician
2. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of these jobs and identify safety concerns they might have if working in those kinds of positions.