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Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

ESA Press Release: State, Federal Officials to Help Keep Young Workers Safe [05/03/2000]

For more information call: (202) 693-0023

State labor departments and the U.S. Department of Labor are combining forces to raise awareness of child labor protections as millions of teenagers are heading toward summer jobs.

The education campaign, "Spring Into Safety," will include activities in twenty-two states throughout the country. State and federal offices will disseminate printed materials such as bookmarks and fact sheets with information about child labor laws. Several states plan proclamations to highlight child labor issues.

"I applaud the states that have become part of this campaign to protect our youngest workers," Secretary of Labor Alexis M. Herman said. "Seventy young workers are killed on the job each year and 200,000 are injured. With all of us working together we can change those numbers."

Most teens work in retail establishments restaurants, supermarkets and stores. Others work on farms or in summer camps and amusement parks. Most deaths of young workers are caused by car crashes and tractor rollovers. Homicide is another leading cause of death. Too often, teens are left working alone late at night in stores that become the subject of a violent crime. And too many teens get injured while operating meat slicing machines and dough mixers.

Under federal provisions, operating paper balers, meat slicers, dough mixers and wood-working machines and most driving are designated as too dangerous for workers under 18.

Hours also are restricted for workers under 16, although during the summer months they may work 40 hours during a workweek and until 9 p.m. During school months, the hours are limited to after 7 a.m. and before 7 p.m., with a limit of 18 hours in a school week.

"Spring Into Safety" was developed by the Federal/State Task Force on Child Labor convened by Secretary Herman last summer and is a precursor to the Department's annual "Work Safe This Summer" campaign later this month. Representatives of the National Association of Government Labor Officials and the Interstate Labor Standards Association have joined the Labor Department to coordinate common efforts in protecting youth in the workplace. The awareness campaign this year is being launched by Assistant Secretary for Employment Standards Bernard E. Anderson with officials in three states, including Arizona, Oregon and California.

For more information on child labor, contact the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment Standards Administration, Wage and Hour Division listed in the blue pages of the phone book, or log onto www.dol.gov/dol/esa. Or contact your state labor department.

Archived News Release--Caution: information may be out of date.