Young Workers
Young workers are generally believed to be at increased risk of occupational injury owing to their limited job knowledge, training, and skills. Physical and psychosocial factors may also place young workers at increased risk of injury, and age-related factors may render youths more susceptible to chemical and other physical exposure risks at work. Every year, about 67 teenage workers die of work injuries [DOL 2000], and NIOSH estimates that 230,000 teenagers suffer from nonfatal occupational injuries. For the year 2010, BLS forecasts that 17.8 million youths aged 16–19 will be in the labor force—up from 16 million in 2000. Labor force data are unavailable for youths aged 15 and younger, though BLS collects occupational fatality data and nonfatal injury and illness data on workers in these age groups.
Data for the figures come from three sources: CFOI, SOII, and the Occupational Health Surveillance (SENSOR) Program within the Massachusetts Department of Public Health [Davis 2002]. The figures in this section illustrate fatal occupational injuries and nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses among young workers. They are described for the following age groups (data permitting):
| Fatal occupational injuries | Nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses |
| 17 or younger | Younger than 14 |
| 16–17 | 14–15 |
| 18–19 | 16–19 |
BLS reported that during 1993–2002, the number of fatal injuries ranged from 32 to 46 for workers aged 16–17, and from 92 to 137 for workers aged 18–19. Rates declined during the same period from 2 to 1.1 per 100,000 employed workers aged 16–17 and from 3 to 2.2 per 100,000 employed workers aged 18–19 (Figure 5–5). Most fatalities (60.5%) affect workers aged 16 and 17 (Figure 5–6) and occur among male workers (Figure 5–7) and white, non-Hispanic youths (73.6%) (Figure 5–8). Work in farming, forestry, and fishing accounted for 289 or 42.3% of all fatal occupational injuries among youths aged 17 during 1992–2002 (Figure 5–9). Transportation incidents were responsible for 320 or 45.4% of fatal occupational injuries among youths; incidents on highways, farms, and industrial premises accounted for more than 137 or 74% of all transportation incidents among youths (Figure 5–11).
BLS reports from employers show a consistent downward trend since 1992 in the estimated number of nonfatal injuries and illnesses involving days away from work among workers under age 14 (Figure 5–12), aged 14–15 (Figure 5–13), and aged 16–19 (Figure 5–14). In 2001, workers aged 16–19 accounted for 44,535 or 2.9% of all reported cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness involving days away from work. Younger workers experienced less severe injuries as measured by median days away from work. Workers aged 14–15 had a median loss of 2 days (62.3% of the cases had a work loss of 1 or 2 days), and workers aged 16–19 had a median loss of 4 days (60.1% of the cases involved a work loss of 5 days or less) (Figure 5–15). During 2001, the highest proportion of nonfatal injury and illness cases among workers aged 16–19 occurred in operators, fabricators, and laborers (37.4% or 16,566 cases) and service (30.8% or 13,640) (Figure 5–16). The wholesale and retail trade and services industry sectors accounted for the highest percentages (45.6% and 21.2%, respectively) of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses among workers aged 16–19 (Figure 5–17).
Fatal Injuries
Magnitude and Trend
How did the numbers and rates of fatal occupational injuries change among young workers during 1993–2002?
 | Figure 5-5 Numbers and rates of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 16-17 and 18-19, 1993-2002. Fatal occupational injury rates declined during this 10-year period from 2 to 1.1 per 100,000 employed workers aged 16-17 and from 3 to 2.2 per 100,000 employed workers aged 18-19. Fatal injury rates were higher each year for workers aged 18-19 compared with workers aged 16-17. The number of fatal injuries ranged from 32 in 1998 to 46 in 1999 for workers aged 16-17, and from 92 in 2002 to 137 in 1998 for workers aged 18-19. (Note: BLS rounded rates to whole numbers for 1993-1995.) (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Age
How did fatal occupational injuries differ by age of young workers during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 5-6 Number and distribution of fatal occupational injuries by age among young workers, 1992-2002. Fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 16 and 17 accounted for 158 and 270 fatalities, respectively, or 60.5% of all fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger for the period 1992-2002. A significant number of deaths (94 or 13.3% of the total) occurred among youths aged 12 and younger. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Sex
How did the number of fatal occupational injuries differ by sex of worker among young workers during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 5-7 Number of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger by sex of worker, 1992-2002. For this period, the total number of fatal occupational injuries for workers aged 17 and younger ranged from 41 in 2002 to 73 in 2000. Deaths among male workers predominated, accounting for 89% of the worker deaths reported in this age group during 1992-2002. (Note: Dash in parentheses indicates that no data were reported or that data do not meet BLS publication criteria.) (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Race/Ethnicity
How did fatal occupational injuries differ by race/ethnicity among young workers during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 5-8 Number and distribution of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger by race/ethnicity, 1992-2002. White, non-Hispanic youths accounted for 520 or 73.6% of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger during 1992-2002. In contrast, 39 fatal occupational injuries (5.5%) were reported for black, non-Hispanic youths, and 114 (16.1%) were reported for Hispanic youths during the 11-year period. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Occupation
How did fatal occupational injuries differ by major occupational group among young workers during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 5-9 Distribution and number of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger by occupation, 1992-2002. Work in farming, forestry, and fishing accounted for 289 or 42.3% of all fatal occupational injuries among youths aged 17 and younger during 1992-2002. Youths employed as operators, fabricators, and laborers accounted for 195 or 28.6% of the fatal injuries. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Industry
How did fatal occupational injuries vary by private industry sector among young workers during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 5-10 Distribution and number of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger by industry, 1992-2002. During 1992-2002, young workers in agriculture, forestry, and fishing accounted for 287 or 43.3% of all fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 or younger. Workers in retail trade and construction had the next largest numbers of fatal injuries among young workers (127 fatal injuries [or 19.2%] and 107 fatal injuries [or 16.1%], respectively). (Note: Dash in parentheses indicates that no data were reported or that data do not meet BLS publication criteria.) (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Event or Exposure
How did fatal occupational injuries differ by event or exposure among young workers during 1992–2002?
 | Figure 5-11 Distribution and number of fatal occupational injuries among workers aged 17 and younger by event or exposure, 1992-2002. Transportation incidents accounted for 45.4% (320) of fatal occupational injuries among youths. These incidents are further described by the smaller pie chart, which shows incidents on highways, farms, and industrial premises accounting for more than 74% of all transportation incidents among youths. Overall, assaults and violent acts accounted for 126 or 17.8% of all fatal occupational injuries among youths. (Source: BLS [2003d].) |
Nonfatal Injuries and Illnesses
Magnitude and Trend
How did nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work change among workers under age 14 during 1992–2001?
 | Figure 5-12 Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses among workers under age 14 involving days away from work in private industry, 1992-2001. Reported cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness involving days away from work are very rare among workers younger than 14. No cases are reported by BLS for 1997-2001, and relatively few cases are reported for 1992-1996. The highest estimated count of 91 cases was reported in 1992 (compared with an estimated 2.3 million for all age groups). (Note: Dash in parentheses indicates that no data were reported or that data do not meet BLS publication criteria.) (Sources: BLS [2003b,c].) |
How did nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work change among workers aged 14–15 during 1992–2001?
 | Figure 5-13 Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work among workers aged 14-15 in private industry, 1992-2001. Among workers aged 14-15, reported cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness involving days away from work ranged from 1,476 in 1996 to 276 in 1998. (Sources: BLS [2003b,c].) |
How did nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work change among workers aged 16–19 during 1992–2001?
 | Figure 5-14 Number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work among workers aged 16-19 in private industry, 1992-2001. Among workers aged 16-19, reported cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness involving days away from work ranged from 97,262 in 1994 to 44,535 in 2001. Overall, this age group accounts for 2.9% of all reported cases of nonfatal occupational injury and illness. Data for 1992-2001 show a consistently decreasing trend in reported cases. (Sources: BLS [2003b,c].) |
Severity
How did nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work vary by severity of work loss for young workers in 2001?
 | Figure 5-15 Distribution of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work among workers aged 14-15 and 16-19 in private industry by number of days away from work, 2001. Young workers tended to experience more short-term than long-term work loss. For workers aged 14-15, 62.3% of the cases had a work loss of 1 or 2 days. For workers aged 16-19, 60.1% of the cases involved work loss of 5 days or less. Workers aged 14-15 had a median loss of 2 days, and workers aged 16-19 had a median loss of 4 days. Overall, private sector workers had a median of 6 days away from work. (Sources: BLS [2003b,c].) |
Occupation
How did nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work differ by major occupational group among young workers in 2001?
 | Figure 5-16 Distribution and number of occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work among workers aged 16-19 in private industry by occupation, 2001. BLS estimates that 44,249 cases of occupational injury and illness involving days away from work occurred among workers aged 16-19 during 2001. The highest proportions of these cases occurred in operators, fabricators, and laborers (37.4% or 16,566 cases) and service (30.8% or 13,640). (Sources: BLS [2003b,c].) |
Industry
How did nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work differ by industry among young workers in 2001?
 | Figure 5-17 Distribution and number of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work among workers aged 16-19 in private industry by industry, 2001. Wholesale and retail trade and services accounted for the highest percentages (45.6% and 21.2%, respectively) of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses among workers aged 16-19. (Sources: BLS [2003b,c].) |
Case-Based Reporting of Work-Related Injuries to Adolescents in Massachusetts (SENSOR)
Work is part of life for millions of adolescents throughout the United States. Working adolescents are exposed to a variety of health hazards at work, and many are injured at work each year. Employment data for working youths under age 16 are not published routinely. A recent Department of Labor report estimates that 2.9 million youths aged 15–17 worked during school years, and 4 million worked during the summer months [DOL 2000].
The Massachusetts Occupational Health Surveillance Program has been conducting surveillance of occupational injuries to adolescents since 1992. The program collects data about occupational injuries to youths under age 18. The Massachusetts public health code mandates that physicians and hospitals report cases of occupational injuries among adolescents. These data are used for surveillance and prevention purposes. Workers’ compensation claims and hospital emergency room data are also used to identify cases. Cases identified through workers’ compensation claims are limited to injuries resulting in 5 or more lost workdays. Not all emergency rooms report injuries to the surveillance program (14 hospitals report regularly). The actual number of occupational injuries requiring medical treatment of an adolescent worker is believed to be much higher than the number reported by the Massachusetts surveillance program.
Of the 3,389 cases of injuries among young workers during 1993–1999, 2,391 cases were identified solely from workers’ compensation claims (Figure 5–18). Workers aged 16 and 17 accounted for 30.0% and 58.3%, respectively, of occupational injuries among adolescents. Male workers accounted for 62.5% of the adolescents injured (Figure 5–19). Most cases identified through emergency department reports involved cuts, lacerations, and punctures (46.8%), followed by heat burns and scalds (14.0%). These data contrast with the data for workers’ compensation claims, which report that the majority of cases involved strains and sprains (35.5%), followed by cuts, lacerations, and punctures (23.8%) (Figure 5–20). The largest numbers of occupational injury cases identified among young workers in Massachusetts through workers’ compensation claims occurred in restaurants (25.6%), grocery stores (15.0%), retail bakeries (6.7%), and nursing homes (5.8%) (Figure 5–21).
Data Sources
What data sources were used in Massachusetts for the surveillance of occupational injuries among young workers during 1993–1999?
 | Figure 5-18 Occupational injuries among young workers in Massachusetts by data source, 1993-1999. Cases are identified from two sources-workers' compensation claims resulting in 5 or more lost workdays and reports from emergency departments. Of the 3,389 cases identified, 2,391 were identified solely from workers' compensation claims. (Source: Davis [2002].) |
Age and Sex
How did occupational injuries differ by age and sex among young workers in Massachusetts during 1993–1999?
 | Figure 5-19 Occupational injuries among young workers in Massachusetts by age and sex, 1993-1999. Workers aged 16 accounted for 30.0% of occupational injuries among adolescents, and workers aged 17 accounted for 58.3%. Male workers accounted for 62.5% of the adolescents injured. (Source: Davis [2002].) |
Type of Injury
How did occupational injuries differ by type of injury among young workers in Massachusetts during 1993–1999?
 | Figure 5-20 Occupational injuries among young workers aged 14-17 in Massachusetts by injury type and data source, 1993-1999. Of the 945 cases of occupational injury among young workers in Massachusetts who were identified through emergency department reports, the majority involved cuts, lacerations, and punctures (46.8%), followed by heat burns and scalds (14.0%). These data contrast with the data for workers' compensation claims, which report that most cases involved strains and sprains (35.5%), followed by cuts, lacerations, and punctures (23.8%). (Source: Davis [2002].) |
Industry
How did occupational injuries differ by private industry sector among young workers in Massachusetts during 1993–1999?
 | Figure 5-21 Occupational injuries identified by workers' compensation data among young workers aged 14-17 in Massachusetts by selected industry, 1993-1999. The largest numbers of occupational injury cases identified among young workers in Massachusetts through workers' compensation claims occurred in restaurants (25.6%), grocery stores (15.0%), retail bakeries (6.7%), and nursing homes (5.8%). (Source: Davis [2002].) |
