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Are you a working teen?
Work experience can be a great benefit to you and your employer! Regardless of where you work
- restaurant, grocery store, office, or on a farm, OSHA's mission is to prevent injuries and protect the health of America's teen workers by promoting positive
and safe work experiences. |
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Work experience can be a great benefit to you, but it may also be hazardous... |
Did you know that every year many young workers die from injuries in the United
States?
Work injuries may occur from:
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Teens are killed at work
most often from: |
- Unsafe equipment
- Stressful conditions
- Inadequate safety training
- Inadequate supervision
- Dangerous work that is illegal or inappropriate for youth
- Trying to hurry
- Alcohol and drug use
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Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology
and Medicine at 202-693-2300
for assistance accessing PDF materials.
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Do you know
that some jobs are considered too hazardous for you to perform? |
The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits workers under the age of 18 from doing tasks identified as
hazardous such as driving forklifts, or using electric meat slicers. It also limits the hours you can work. |
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Did you know that on-the-job injuries and deaths can occur in your workplace? Some youth
workplace hazards to watch out for include: |
Agricultural Hazards:
Agriculture is the most dangerous industry for young
workers. [Preventing Deaths, Injuries, and Illnesses of Young Workers.
National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) Alert,
(2003, July)].
- 42% of the young workers killed from 1992-2000, lost their lives in farming jobs. A third of these accidents involved
tractors.
- More than half of these fatalities occurred on farms owned by the victims' families.
For additional information on work hazards and safety solutions in agriculture
see:
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Agricultural Jobs |
Potential Hazards |
Farming jobs
If you are under 16 years of age, Child Labor Laws
forbid you from operating certain equipment, including tractors;
state laws may be even more stringent.
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- Heavy machinery (Tractors)
- Unprotected heights (Falls)
- Falling or flying objects
- Natural hazards
- Electrocution
- Organic dust
- Confined spaces
- Chemicals
- Noise
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Non-Agricultural Hazards: In non-agricultural trades retail has the highest number of workplace fatalities
among young workers. Between 1992 and 2000, 63% of these deaths were due to assaults and violent acts.
[Preventing Deaths, Injuries, and Illnesses of Young Workers.
National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH) Alert,
(2003, July)]. |
Non-Agricultural Jobs |
Potential Hazards
Real Stories
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Food service/ fast food
For additional information on work hazards and solutions in restaurants work,
see
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Retail
stores/grocery stores
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,
homicide
was the leading cause of death among youths in retail trade,
accounting for nearly two-thirds of the youth fatalities in
the industry.
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- Violent crimes
- Heavy lifting
- Box crushers
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Janitorial/clean-up/
maintenance work
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Office/Clerical
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- Repetitive trauma (Typing)
- Back and neck strain
- Stress
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Industry
If you are under
18 years of age, you are not allowed to operate power-driven
machines, including:
- power-driven meat slicers and meat grinders;
- forklifts;
- paper balers and cardboard compactors;
- power-driven bakery equipment, including mixers;
- power-driven woodworking equipment, including chain saws and circular
saws.
Protecting
Young Workers: Prohibition against Young Workers Operating
Forklifts. OSHA Safety and Health Bulletin (SHIB), (2003, September
23). Also available as a 109 KB PDF,
4 pages.
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Construction Work
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If you are under 16 years of age, you are not allowed to
work on construction sites by law.
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Outdoor Work
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For other potential general hazards that teens
can be exposed to on the job, see
Potential Hazards. |
Accessibility Assistance: Contact the OSHA Directorate of Science, Technology
and Medicine at 202-693-2300
for assistance accessing OSHA PDF materials.
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Do you know your rights?
Do you know your responsibilities?
Take the quiz!
Additional links
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