YELLOWKNIFE - Hard hats, steel-toed boots, safety glasses, gloves and a reflective vest: these are not items you would commonly see on a 10-year-old going out on a Saturday afternoon.

Yet two weekends ago Philippe Mathers was dressed head-to-toe in safety gear when he and his father, Ian, a civil engineer technologist, stopped in at the reservoir expansion construction site to bring doughnuts to the workers in the coffee room.

Philippe Mathers, right, 10, and father Ian, left, stand in front of a workplace safety sign at the reservoir expansion construction site. Philippe is aware of safety issues at all times, even during recess at school. "He's probably the only kid at school wearing a vest," joked Ian. - Herb Mathisen/NNSL photo

"He's been aware of safety issues for a while," said Ian.

Philippe has accompanied his father to job sites for seven years, since Philippe was three.

"I don't want to get hurt or other people to get hurt," Philippe said, explaining why he wears the safety gear.

Philippe's concern is well warranted.

This week marks North American Occupational Safety and Health week. Since 1984, more than 16,800 Canadians have been killed on the job. In 2007, 11 workers were killed in the NWT and Nunavut.

Philippe, a student at Ecole Allain St. Cyr, has heard stories of people becoming injured or killed on the job site from his father.

"It's pretty disturbing," said Philippe.

The construction workers at the site enjoy the interest Philippe takes in their work.

"Phil's our mascot," said Ray Gill. "As you can see, he's well decked out."

Gill said Philippe comes out and shares a laugh with them at coffee time. They also enjoy the doughnuts he brings with him.

Gill gets serious when talking about the hazards of a construction site, though.

"No kids are allowed on site, but Phil can come see us here because he's with dad," said Gill in the coffee room, adding Philippe is not allowed where any work is taking place.

Gill said when kids show up at the site, they are asked to leave.

"The local kids have been pretty good," said Gill. "They've stayed away."

"I like to take him out to see what's going on," said Ian of Philippe.

He said it takes the mystery out of the site, which would appear interesting to a curious kid.

Ian told a story about a site in Behchoko, where a back-hoe operator was swinging the scoop to dump some dirt onto a pile, when a five-year-old kid popped out from behind it. The operator shut down the machine and went home because the site was too dangerous.

"The construction site is a dangerous place," said Ian.

"You have to be aware of what the dangers are. If you're not, then you shouldn't be out there."

Ian said workplace safety has improved since his younger days, when he would show up at a site and be immediately put to work without any training or discussion of possible hazards.

Wayne Perry, the site superintendent, said his crew has daily tailgate safety discussions for 15 to 20 minutes.

At these morning meetings, the crew talks about what they will be doing that day and what hazards may be involved.

"The younger guys are a lot more aware of safety issues than older guys," said Ian, adding that it's usually the veterans who tend to forget safety glasses or hard hats.

Philippe took a job in Ontario, when his family was vacationing in 2005. He filled storm drains with gravel at his grandma's house, so people would not trip.

"I had to make sure the pedestrians were safe," he said.

As for what he wanted to do for a job in the future, Philippe seemed to already have a clear idea.

"One of those guys that goes around, looking at how things are done," he said. "A safety inspector."