This is the first summer that Ontario employers have new liability and responsibility to summer students who are with them in unpaid co-op or internships.  The Occupational Health and Safety Act coverage expanded to unpaid co-op students and learners in work placements, effective November 20, 2014.

For employers, this means that unpaid summer co-op students should be subject to the same training, orientation, supervision and safety requirements as paid young workers in the workplace.  While some employers might see summer students as a quick fix to cover for vacations and to complete extra projects, employers who commit to the safety and supervision of all students, both paid and unpaid will have more successful short-term and long-term outcomes in their organization.

1. Safety requirements

Occupational Health and Safety basic awareness training

This is now the second summer that the mandatory basic health and safety awareness training for employees is applicable to … Continue reading “Hot tips for summer student workplace supervision, safety and success!”