August 4, 1999 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Nonfatal injuries to young workers

In 1996, just over 15,000 youths under the age of 18 incurred injuries on the job that resulted in lost workdays. Sprains and strains accounted for about a third of these injuries.

[Chart data—TXT]

After sprains and strains, the most common types of injuries were bruises and contusions, and cuts and lacerations. Compared to adult workers’ injuries, those of young workers were more likely to result from contacts with objects and equipment, falls, and contacts with hot objects or substances. Adult workers were more likely to incur injuries due to overexertion and repetitive motion.

These data are a product of the BLS Safety and Health Statistics Program. Additional information is available from "Profile of work injuries incurred by young workers," by Janice Windau, Eric Sygnatur, and Guy Toscano, Monthly Labor Review, June 1999. Note that these injury data are for private nonagricultural wage and salary workers only.