Rieko's Story: Shot to Death during Attempted Robbery

Rieko, a 16-year-old restaurant cashier died when she was shot in the head during an armed robbery attempt. Rieko's father was the owner of a small Asian restaurant where she worked after school. While she was standing behind the counter, a man entered the restaurant, went directly to her, pointed a handgun at her head, demanded money, and fired the gun in her face. Rieko was transported quickly by ambulance, but was pronounced dead at the hospital. 

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Working directly with customers and money puts young restaurant employees at risk for becoming a victim of robbery. Find out what you and your employer can do to make your surroundings safer from possible workplace violence

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Jose's Story: Crushed and Died While Cleaning a Dough Mixing Machine

Jose, a 15-year-old pizzeria worker was killed when he became entangled in a machine used to mix pizza dough. Jose had arrived in the United States from Guatemala one month before the incident and had been working at the family-owned pizza restaurant for only two weeks. 

On the night of the incident, he was cleaning the pizza dough mixer as the restaurant was closing for the evening, working alone in the kitchen as the remaining staff cleaned the adjoining dining room. He apparently lifted the cover of the mixer, uncovering the 32-inch-diameter mixing bowl, and started the machine. Reaching into the bowl he was caught by a large mixing fork. His co-workers heard him scream, but were unable to reach him in time. 

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

There are laws that protect anyone under 18 years of age from doing dangerous work. Know which tasks are too hazardous for teens, like operation or cleaning of power-driven bakery machines. [63 KB PDF, 5 pages] For those 18 years and older, always ensure a machine is OFF (and can not unintentionally be turned on again) before attempting to clean any of its parts. A machine-powered dough mixer like Jose was using should be designed with safeguarding so that it is not possible to put your hand into the bowl while the fork is in motion. In general, machines with sharp moving parts must have machine guarding to keep body parts out of harm’s way.

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Joan's Story: "How I cut off my fingers." (17 years old)

"I was cleaning the meat slicer, which has a metal blade. There is a sign on the slicer that says you must be over 18 to operate it, but I used it all the time. In order to clean the slicer, the blade had to be exposed which means the machine had to be on. I was cleaning the front of the slicer when my foot slipped on a piece of plastic wrap that was on the floor. My body fell forward into the slicer and I cut about 3/4 of the nail and tip of my right index finger off. I grabbed a clean cloth and then went into shock and started screaming. A co-worker saw what had happened and called 911. A customer who was a certified nurse got me a drink of water and held my arm above my head. The paramedics came. They put the tip of my finger on ice and took me to the ER in an ambulance."

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

There are laws that protect anyone under 18 years of age from doing dangerous work. Know which tasks are too hazardous for teens, like operation or cleaning of meat slicers. [63 KB PDF, 5 pages.] Slips/Trips/Falls are a common cause of injuries in restaurant workers. Yet simple steps like 1) keeping the floor clean and dry and 2) wearing shoes with non-slip soles can help keep you on your feet! After slipping, Joan lost a finger [Amputations. OSHA Fact Sheet, 153 KB PDF, 2 pages] when she contacted the sharp blade of the meat slicer. This is why machines with sharp moving parts must have machine guarding to help keep body parts out of harm’s way.

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Tanya's Story: Second and Third Degree Burns from Cooking Oil

Tanya, a 20-year-old, who worked at a fast-food restaurant, was cleaning exhaust filters above a deep fryer. She placed a wooden cover over three of the fryer's four bins, which all contained hot grease, but there was no cover for the fourth bin. She fell while standing on a chair she had placed on the wooden cover to reach and remove the filters. Tanya's arm and shoulder went into the hot grease in the uncovered bin. She was hospitalized for four days and needed plastic surgery for scarring.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Cleaning vents above deep fat fryers is an activity known to put teens at risk of bad burns. Can you name three things Tanya did that made it even more dangerous? How about: 1) standing on a chair, 2) leaving one bin uncovered, and 3) cleaning with the oil still hot. For additional tips for staying safe when working with or around deep fat fryers, see Teen Worker Safety in Restaurants.

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Sheila's Story: A Waitress who Slipped

Sheila was a 17-year-old waitress in a delicatessen who slipped on a wet floor. As she fell, Sheila stepped into a bucket of hot grease that was on the floor while a co-worker was changing the grease in the deep-fat fryer. The hot grease burned Sheila's ankle. She was hospitalized for 3 days, required surgery for skin grafting and suffered permanent scarring of her ankle.
 

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Slips/Trips/Falls are a common cause of injuries in restaurant workers. Yet simple steps like 1) keeping the floor clean and dry and 2) wearing shoes with non-slip soles can help keep you on your feet! Sheila had the bad luck to step into a bucket of hot grease which should never have been left on the floor in the first place. For additional tips for staying safe while serving and working around deep fat fryers, see Teen Worker Safety in Restaurants.

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Sid's Story: Fatally Electrocuted by an Electric Toaster

Sid, an 18-year-old employee with 15 months' experience at a fast food restaurant, was electrocuted when he plugged a portable electric toaster into an outlet on the floor which had been damp-mopped five minutes earlier.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

We all live and work with electricity- it has become an essential part of our modern world. But even though it is common, it can be dangerous- even deadly. As Sid’s story shows, something as simple as plugging in a toaster can become deadly under certain circumstances. An electrical safety training program will teach you tips like never plug in electrical equipment if your hands are wet or touching a damp or wet surface. For additional tips for on staying safe while working with electrical appliances, see Teen Worker Safety in Restaurants.

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 Robert's Story: Chemical Poisoning

Robert, a 17-year-old laborer, was assigned to clean the inside of metal molds used to make plastic containers. He propped the mold upright and leaned into it to wipe the bottom of the mold with a cloth rag and a chemical (called Tetrachloroethylene). He was found by a co-worker dead inside the mold.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Before using any cleaning product, find out what it is, what it can do, and how you can protect yourself from harm. Employers must provide you with information (including a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS)) on chemicals that could be dangerous to your health and must train you to handle them appropriately. This is part of a required workplace Hazard Communication program, called HazCom for short. Reading the MSDS for the chemical that Robert was using to clean, called Tetrachloroethylene, would tell you that it is very toxic and should be used with good ventilation and/or breathing equipment to protect you from poisoning. If information is not offered to you about chemicals you use at work, be sure to ask for it.

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Danny's Story: A Machine Cut off his Leg

Danny, a 24-year-old employee, was working with drilling equipment when he was caught in the machinery and cut off his leg below the knee.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Drilling equipment is super-strong and super-sharp so it can cut through hard surfaces, but this also means it can cut through you causing an amputation like the loss of Danny’s leg [Amputations. OSHA Fact Sheet, 153 KB PDF, 2 pages]. This is why machines with sharp moving parts must have machine guarding to keep body parts out of harm’s way. Employers must also explain to you how to turn these machines off and how to ensure that they are not restarted while you are in harm’s way. These types of programs, called "lockout/tagout," should be explained to you before you work around these types of machines.

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Rodney's Story: Lost his Fingers in a Printing Machine  

Rodney, a 20-year-old worker lost his right middle finger while cleaning near a rotating gear of a printing press. Two-thirds of his finger was cut off when it was caught by the rotating press.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

An amputation [Amputations. OSHA Fact Sheet, 153 KB PDF, 2 pages] is a risk when working around powerful machines like those used in the printing industry. To stay safe, always turn a machine OFF before attempting to clean any part of it. Your employer must explain to you how to shut down the machine and ensure that it is not unexpectedly started again until you are safely out of the way. This type of system is called "lockout/tagout," or "LOTO" for short.

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Frances' Story: Burned Right Arm

Frances was a 24 year-old worker at a silk screen printing shop. She was standing in front of the automatic screen printing machine with her right arm extended close to the frame while it was warming up. When she reached her arm into the moving machine to clean the frame, the moving carousel struck her arm and pushed it into the 590 degree head of the machine, giving her a third degree burn.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

To avoid being burned, clean equipment only when it is turned OFF and the parts are still and cool. For some minor servicing operations, the inch-safe-service method may be used. Some equipment requires that you take more specific safety steps before doing cleaning or maintenance work- ask about your company’s "lockout/tagout" program to find out which machines are involved and what you need to know. For more general information about staying safe while working in the printing industry, check out printing industry health and safety concerns.

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Miguel's Story: "How a Gas-powered Mower Cut my Finger" 

"I was 17-years-old and working on a gas-powered mower. I had the mower on the lift at waist level and running so I could adjust the carburetor. It was surging so I put my hand under the deck to pull it back. The blade was spinning and I felt a pinch. My boss yelled for 911 because there was blood everywhere. He grabbed me and put pressure on my wrist and put my hand under cold water. I went into shock. The paramedic took me to the hospital. The blade cut through the bone and shattered the bone in another place. It cut the tips of my ring and middle fingers. I got 18 stitches and the next week I had surgery to insert two pins.

"Two months after the injury, I still cannot do my usual activities. I have numbness in my fingers and sensitivity to hot and cold. I am afraid I will have permanent scarring and loss of sensation in my fingers. I may not be able to go back to vocation technical school because I am not able to do repair work anymore!"

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Proper training may help you stay safe while maintaining machinery like gas-powered mowers. Make sure you have been shown the correct procedures and be sure to ask questions if there is anything you do not understand. In general, you should avoid putting your hands anywhere near sharp moving parts. If possible, turn the machine off or remove the blade before performing maintenance. Also, ask your employer if any of the equipment you work on requires machine guarding or “lockout/tagout" procedures.

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Jason's Story: Electrocuted and Died in a Car Wash

Jason was a 15-year-old worker at an automated car wash. The manager asked him to remove a defective motor from the car wash machine and had disconnected the motor from the three wires supplying power, but the power circuit was not de-energized. Jason was removing the motor when a car entered the car wash and computer-controlled equipment activated the motor. Jason died from electrocution.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Electricity is all around us and we use it every day. Still, it is important to remember that it can be very dangerous under certain circumstances. This is why all workers should receive training in electrical safety. Before attempting any maintenance work (like Jason was doing on the carwash motor), all energy sources must be de-energized. Your employer must have a system in place that covers the proper procedure for shutting down the equipment and ensuring that it is not unexpectedly started again until you are done and safely out of the way. This type of system is called "lockout/tagout," or "LOTO" for short.

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Kevin's Story: Kevin Died from Lack of Oxygen

Kevin was a 16-year-old employee of a company that bored holes. Lying on a skateboard, he entered a very narrow steel tube that ran horizontally underground. His job was to use an electronic device to locate rocks that were interfering with the boring process. After about 20 minutes, he stopped communicating with his coworker outside the tube and the co-worker called for help. Kevin was pronounced dead at the scene. He suffocated from lack of oxygen inside the tube.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

There are strict safety rules that must be followed when an employee enters a confined space like the narrow steel tube Kevin was in. With the right recognition, testing, evaluation, and monitoring, a dangerously low level of oxygen (like in Kevin’s tube) can be detected before it has a chance to harm anyone.

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Steven's Story: A Carpenter who Fell and Died 

Steven was 20-years-old and worked as a carpenter for a construction company building an apartment building. When he was trying to install temporary supports for the roof trusses, he fell through the third and second story stairway openings and landed on the first floor concrete walkway. He died from a fractured skull and brain injuries.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Falls are the most common cause of death for construction workers. Working at heights (6 feet or more) can be made significantly safer with guard rail systems, safety net systems, and/or fall arrest systems. For additional information, see the Construction eTool on fall protection, and ask your employer what systems are in place at your worksite to protect you.

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Brian's Story: Caught Between Formwork and Concrete Column

Brian was 23 years old. He was working for a construction company and trying to remove a temporary beam which was supporting steel beam formwork for a highway bridge. The formwork shifted and he was caught between the formwork and a concrete column. He was killed because of the trauma he suffered.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Getting "caught-between" heavy objects is a major hazard on construction worksites. To avoid being crushed, be sure to receive proper job training and supervision. Also, always stay alert when working around any large objects that move or might move. For additional tips on staying safe while working in the construction industry, see the Construction eTool.

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Scott's Story: Died After Being Struck by a Front End Loader

Scott, a 20-year old construction worker, was killed when he was struck by a Caterpillar front-end loader at a construction site. He was directing the traffic flow for incoming trucks, which were unloading stone and sand at a concrete batch plant. After directing a dump truck to unload its load of sand, he was struck by the left rear of the front end loader as it was backing from the ramp leading to the sand and gravel hoppers. The front end loader backed over him with the left rear tire, which caused severe trauma to his chest. He died 13 hours later from his injuries.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

The second most common cause of construction-related deaths is being struck by an object. Almost three out of four of these incidents involve being struck by heavy equipment like trucks, cranes, or front end loaders. To prevent this, the sounding of audible alarms and functional horns when equipment is moving provides warning to nearby workers. These sounds attract workers’ attention and give them a chance to get out of the way if they are in the path of danger. In Scott’s case, the backup alarm and front horn on the front end loader were not working, so he did not receive the signal to get out of the way to safety. Every employer must regularly test and maintain equipment to prevent vehicular "struck-by" accidents like Scott suffered. For additional vehicle safety practices that will help you stay safe while working on a construction site, see the Construction eTool.

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Blake and Eric's Story: Electrocution at Work
Blake, age 21, and Eric, age 19, were roofers working for a construction company. They were seriously shocked and burned when a ladder-type aluminum track platform hoist they were moving contacted an overhead high voltage powerline. Both were hospitalized. Eric survived, but Blake died 6 days later.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Although Blake and Eric were old enough (21 and 19 years of age) to do this type of work legally, if you are a teen under 18 years of age there are laws that protect you from doing dangerous work. Know which tasks are too hazardous for teens, like participating in roofing operations. For those 18 years and older, Blake and Eric’s story of electrical injury and death is not uncommon. Overhead power lines can carry tens of thousands of volts of electricity. That means if you accidentally come in contact with them, you will probably get zapped. For tips on staying safe while working around power lines, see the Construction eTool.

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Alex's Story: Died from Heat Stroke 

Alex was a 23-year-old firefighter. He and 12 other firefighters were nearing completion of a physical training session when he collapsed, lost consciousness, and went into cardiac arrest. Emergency personnel arrived at the scene, began treatment, and transported him to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Too much heat can kill you, even if you are young and fit. In order to stay cool while doing hard work on a hot day, try these tips: wear light, cool clothing; wear a hat; drink plenty of water; and know the early signs of heat illness. For additional  tips on beating the heat, see the teen worker heat hazard page.

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Reggie's Story: Electrocuted as a Contract Laborer

Reggie was a 16-year-old electrical laborer who was electrocuted when a de-energized powerline he was coiling on the ground contacted an energized overhead powerline. Working on an obsolete powerline, the crew leader was releasing the powerline phases from the pole-mounted crossarms by cutting the tie wires. As the conductors fell to the ground, Reggie and a co-worker coiled them and loaded them on a truck. The pole from which they were releasing the conductors was very close to an energized powerline. As one of the conductors was released, the tension on the remaining conductors caused the pole to lean into the energized powerline, energizing the pole's powerline. Reggie, holding one of the conductors in his hands, was electrocuted and killed instantly. His co-worker, who also was 16-years-old, received flash burns to his face.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

There are laws that protect anyone under 18 years of age from doing dangerous work. Know which tasks are too hazardous for teens, like wrecking and demolition (includes cleanup and salvage work performed at the site of the total or partial razing, demolishing, or dismantling of a building, bridge, steeple, tower, chimney, other structure, ship or other vessel). For those 18 years and older, electricity is all around us and we use it every day. Still, it is important to remember that it may be very dangerous under certain circumstances. This is why all workers should receive training in electrical safety. In cases like Reggie’s, proper evaluation of the work site and training of the employees involved could have prevented the injury and death.

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Sally's Story: Electrocuted at the Pool

Sally was a 17-year-old assistant pool manager whose duties included maintaining the pH level in the swimming pool by adding soda ash to the water. Standing barefoot on the wet concrete floor of the pump room, Sally filled the plastic drum with water, plugged in the mixing motor, and placed the motor switch in the on position. In the process of adding soda ash to the drum, she accidentally contacted the energized mixing motor with her left hand and created a path to ground for the electrical current. Sally died from electrocution.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

Electricity is all around us and we use it every day. Still, it is important to remember that it can be very dangerous under certain circumstances. This is why all workers should receive training in electrical safety. What was unsafe about Sally’s situation? 1) The floor was wet (water acts as a conductor of electricity, increasing its ability to flow), 2) she was barefoot (wearing insulated boots or shoes would decrease the ability of electricity to flow), and 3) the equipment was not properly set up and maintained (the motor was not grounded properly and the ground fault circuit interrupter was not connected properly). The use of insulation, guarding, grounding, electrical protective devices, and safe work practices can help you stay safe while working with and around electricity.

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Craig's Story: Hit by Two cars

Craig, a 16-year-old helper on a trash hauling truck stepped off a garbage truck into a lane of oncoming traffic and was struck by a minivan. The impact threw him into the opposite traffic lane where he was struck by a second vehicle. Both his legs were broken.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

There are laws that protect anyone under 18 years of age from doing dangerous work. Know which tasks are too hazardous for teens, like being an outside helper on a motor vehicle. For those 18 years and older, high visibility clothing (including reflective gear at night) may help drivers to spot you better. And remember to always look before you leap if you must step into a lane of traffic. A better plan, if possible, would be to exit on the side away from traffic or at least be sure there is a physical barrier between you and the cars.  For information on how to stay safe in the driver’s seat, see  Motor Vehicle Safety.

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Tom's Story: Crushed and Killed Operating a Forklift

Workers under 18 years old are not allowed by law to operate forklifts. Tom was a 16-year-old hired as a summer helper at a warehouse. He was driving a forklift down a loading dock ramp with the forks lifted 10 feet high (all the way up) when the vehicle became unstable. The forklift toppled over, Tom got trapped underneath, and he was crushed to death.

Don’t Let it Happen to You!

There are laws that protect anyone under 18 years of age from doing dangerous work. Know which tasks are too hazardous for teens, like operating a forklift. For those 18 years and older, the key to operating a forklift safely is to be properly trained and licensed. The training will teach you steps to stay safe like using a seatbelt and using extreme caution on slopes or ramps that will keep you on the move when operating powered industrial trucks like forklifts.

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