Iowa
State University Extension
Farm
operators keep all kinds of business records but may overlook
work permits for high school students they employ during summer
months.
Iowa
law requires employers to keep work permits on file for all
employees under 16 years of age. To protect themselves from
unintentional violation of child labor laws, farm operators
can ask youth employees for a valid work permit. The permit,
issued by the Iowa Job Service or local school superintendent,
certifies the youth's age and describes work that will be
performed.
Students
under 16 years are prohibited from doing certain kinds of
agricultural work, such as operating a tractor or working
with most farm machinery, unless they've completed a certified
tractor or machine operation training course. Students who
work on their parents' farm or students who work for seed
companies to detassel corn are exempted from child labor laws
in Iowa.
Each
violation of a federal child labor law can result in a civil
penalty of up to $1,000. Intentional violations of the law
carry an additional $10,000 fine.
Records
that a farm operator may find helpful to keep on file include
the student's full name and home address, date of birth, and
a certificate of training. For more information on this topic,
contact your local extension office for a free copy of a new
publication, Know Laws about Youth Farm Workers, Pm-1518f.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
news release was distributed by Iowa State University Extension
as part of the Safe Farm Program. Safe Farm promotes health
and safety in agriculture. It is funded by the National Institute
for Occupational Safety and Health, Iowa State University,
and a network of groups that serve Iowa farm workers and their
families. Distribution date: June 1993.
|