Follow the law! Adolescent workers are protected by two laws enforced by the Department of Labor (DOL): Follow the law! Multiple agencies of the US Department of Labor (DOL) enforce laws to protect workers. Two of these agencies are the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the Employment Standards Administration (ESA). OSHA enforces regulations and standards under the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act. Depending on your location, you, as the employer, must comply with hazard-specific occupational safety and health standards promulgated either by federal OSHA or by your state (if it is an OSHA-approved state plan). Your Federal or state OSHA office will help you regarding OSHA regulations and standards. The Employment Standards Administration (ESA) enforces Child Labor Laws under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Contact your local ESA office for questions on child labor law, the FLSA, and the other laws enforced by the ESA. The FLSA and state laws provide child labor provisions that were designed to protect minors in non-agricultural and agricultural employment by restricting the types of jobs and the number of hours they may work. Non-agricultural youth workers: hours permitted and jobs permitted. Agricultural youth workers: hours permitted and jobs permitted. Employers must post the FLSA Required Minimum Wage Poster. The OSH Act requires that employers provide a safe and healthful work environment and comply with occupational safety and health standards. This includes OSHA Standards such as: Employers must assess the hazards in their workplace, select the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for their employees, such as gloves, aprons, and foot protection and inform their employees what is appropriate. [29 CFR 1910.132(a)] and [29 CFR 1910.132(d)] Employers must make any employees exposed to hazardous materials aware of the hazards and train them to protect themselves from these hazards [29 CFR 1910.1200]. Employers must display a poster prepared by the Department of Labor (DOL) or your state labor department informing employees of the protections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act P.L. 91-596, December 29, 1970 and its amendments. Consider implementing the following: A review of the worksite to eliminate identified hazards and ensure jobs are as safe as possible. Youth Rules! Protecting the Working Teen. Illinois Onsite Safety and Health Consultation Program, DCEO, and the OSHA North Aurora and Chicago North Area Offices, 384 KB Video, 15 minutes. Assists employers in understanding what their responsibilities are for providing a safe and healthful workplace for teenage workers as well as how to recognize and eliminate workplace hazards. Provide training to ensure that adolescents recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices. Training should include how to prepare for fires, accidents, violent situations, and what to do if they get injured. Teens need to know that if they get injured, they have the right to file a claim to cover their medical benefits and some of their lost work time. Assign supervisors to teens that recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices. Supervise teens. Verify that teens routinely recognize hazards and use safe work practices. Stress safety, particularly among first-line supervisors; they have the greatest opportunity to influence teens and their work habits. Implement a mentoring or buddy system for new youth workers. Have either an adult or experienced teen be a buddy to answer questions to help the inexperienced worker learn the ropes of a new job. Encourage teens to ask questions about tasks or procedures that are unclear or not understood. Remember that teens are not just "little adults." Employers must be mindful of the unique aspects of communicating with teens. Ensure that equipment operated by teens is both legal and safe for them to use. Employers should label equipment young workers are not allowed to operate. The YouthRules! website has available downloadable stickers for employers to place on hazardous equipment to alert all workers that no one under 18 years of age may operate the equipment. There is also a sticker designed specifically for forklifts developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Develop a drug-free workplace program. Abuse of alcohol and other drugs by workers of any age creates significant but avoidable workplace hazards. Research indicates that adolescents who work longer hours may be more at risk for alcohol and drug abuse. Drug-free workplace programs that educate employees about drug issues help improve workplace safety and health and send a clear, early signal to young workers that in order to work, they must be drug free. Develop a safety and health program in your facility to help prevent workplace injuries. Safety and Health Programs. OSHA Safety and Health Topics Page. Safety and Health Management System. OSHA eTool. $afety Pays Program. OSHA.   A strong safety and health program involves all workers, supervisors, management, experienced workers, and teen workers. Many safety and health problems and injuries can be prevented through simple workplace or work process redesign. For help in establishing or improving your safety and health program, see the OSHA Consultation Directory. For additional help for small businesses, see: Small Business Handbook. OSHA Publication 2209-02R, (2005). Also available as a 260 KB PDF, 56 pages. Electronic Library of Construction Occupational Safety and Health (eLCOSH). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). US Department of Labor (DOL) Youth Worker Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Information Child Labor Fact Sheets Fact Sheet #2. Restaurants and Fast Food Establishments under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Fact Sheet #32. Youth Minimum Wage - Fair Labor Standards Act. Fact Sheet #34. Hazardous Occupations Order No. 2.  Youth Employment Provision and Driving Automobiles and Trucks under the Fair Labor Standards (FLSA). Fact Sheet #37. Application of the Federal Youth Employment Provisions to Amusement Parks and Recreation Establishments under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Fact Sheet #38. Employing Youth in Grocery Stores under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Fact Sheet #40. Federal Child Labor Laws in Farm Jobs. A Spanish version is also available. Fact Sheet #41. Fast Food, Full Service Restaurant, and Supermarket Industries Child Labor Compliance Survey. Fact Sheet #43. Youth Employment Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) For Nonagricultural Occupations. A Spanish version is also available. US Department of Labor (DOL) Guides Employer's Pocket Guide on Youth Employment. (2004, December), 600 KB PDF, 12 pages. A 162 KB PDF (Spanish version) is also available. Agricultural Employer's Pocket Guide on Employment. Employment Standards Administration (ESA), 3 MB PDF, 12 pages. A 2 MB PDF (Spanish version) is also available. Child Labor Requirements in Nonagricultural Occupations Under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Employment Standards Administration (ESA). Important Change in the Child Labor Laws Affecting Hazardous Occupations Order No. 12 and the Loading of Scrap Paper Balers and Paper Box Compactors.  Employment Standards Administration (ESA). Additional Information Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation (FACE) Program. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Prevents occupational fatalities across the nation by identifying and investigating work situations at high risk for injury and then formulating and disseminating prevention strategies to those who can intervene in the workplace.  Youth Fatality Investigative Reports. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Traumatic Occupational Injuries Topic. Provides fatality reports from across the country involving youth. Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology and Medicine at 202-693-2300 for assistance accessing PDF materials.