The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) 2023 Safe Youth Award recipients are two young people who demonstrate that age is not a barrier to being safety champions in the workplace.
Dylan Arsenault of StandardAero and Carlyn McInnis Taylor of East Coast Paddle Adventures are role models when it comes to bringing their voice to work, protecting themselves and others from hazards and recognizing the importance of training. The award comes with a $500 cash prize.

Dylan is the award recipient in the 20-24 years of age prize category. As a machinist with StandardAero, Dylan has been a driving force in promoting health and safety initiatives within his department and was recognized internally for his work in reducing hand, eye and entanglement injuries that are risks for machinists. As a member of the Safety Management System Committee, Dylan represents 17 machinists and leads monthly safety inspections. These inspections resulted in identifying potential workplace hazards and near misses. His employer said that Dylan sets a great example for young workers in PEI by being a safety leader in the workplace.

Carlyn is the award recipient in the 15 to 19 years of age prize category. As the shop manager for East Coast Paddle Adventures, Carlyn has been recognized for setting the example of a young worker who takes workplace safety seriously. Her employer said that she was proactive in asking questions and communicating effectively with supervisors, coworkers, and customers alike. She demonstrated her commitment to health and safety by exercising her worker rights, requesting proper training, and creating an employee handbook for shop workers. The handbook includes a health and safety section outlining best practices for staff and customer safety, both on and off the water.

“Young workers contribute to the vitality of our Island businesses and employers have the responsibility of supporting them, and all workers, in adopting a safety-first mindset,” said Danny Miller, WCB’s Director of Occupational Health and Safety. “Dylan and Carlyn are excellent examples of how young workers can be champions of workplace safety at any age.”

For additional information on the WCB Safe Youth Award: http://wcb.pe.ca/Workplace/Programs

For additional WCB information on young workers, including resources for teachers and the WCB’s Guide for Employers of Young Workers: http://www.wcb.pe.ca/Workplace/YoungWorkers

The WCB serves over 6,600 employers and over 84,000 workers throughout Prince Edward Island. It  partners with employers and workers in building safe and healthy workplaces and supports recovery, if an injury occurs, through the administration of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Serious work-related injuries and explosions must be reported by calling the 24-hour Occupational Health and Safety Emergency Line at 902-628-7513.

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