Alberta's child labour laws too lax, AFL argues
The Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) hopes the death of a 15-year-old boy at a work site will draw attention to the fact "Alberta’s child labour laws are among the most lax in Canada."
The teen was killed during a gravel crushing operation near Drumheller, and is not the only fatality of a young worker in Alberta’s recent memory — in 2005, another 15-year-old died while on a forklift.
Federation spokeswoman Siobhan Vipond said provincial health and safety standards need to be reviewed, as the 2005 incident failed to result in any changes.
"Only if someone complains about something seemingly unsafe or questionable will someone from the Alberta government come out and inspect it," said Vipond.
In the recent case, Occupational Health and Safety is investigating, and the AFL hopes to see an overhaul of existing rules.
AFL also wants a review to determine whether the operation of heavy machinery should be prohibited under a certain age.
"This... tragic news is yet another reminder that much more needs to be done to keep Albertans safe at work," said Vipond.
