Wage and Hour Division (WHD)

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SALT LAKE CITY -- The U.S. Department of Labor has obtained a permanent injunction in U.S. district court against Paragon Contractors Corp., a Hildale, Utah, contractor, for repeated violations of federal youth employment laws.

Paragon voluntarily agreed to enter into the permanent injunction following three separate investigations by the department’s Wage and Hour Division where youth employment violations were disclosed. The most recent investigation disclosed a 16-year-old working in roofing operations in violation of Hazardous Order #16. A civil money penalty of $5,280 was assessed, and the company paid the penalty without an appeal.

Judge Tena Campbell in Salt Lake City ordered that Paragon Contractors Corp. be permanently enjoined and restrained from violating the youth employment provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), including the employment of individuals under age 14 to perform any work; the employment of individuals under age 16 to work on construction sites; and the employment of individuals under age 18 to operate circular saws and work in roofing operations or on or about a roof. The judge’s order also states that the company and its officers shall not employ, suffer or permit minors to work under conditions constituting oppressive child labor and in occupations declared hazardous.

“This action sends a strong message to employers who repeatedly violate the law that the department is committed to safeguarding the health, safety and educational opportunities of young workers,” said Dean A. Campbell, district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Salt Lake City. “Employers must act responsibly, or the Labor Department will pursue all appropriate action to ensure the safe employment of young workers.”

The department’s youth employment regulations identify 17 hazardous occupations prohibited for workers under the age of 18, including roofing and operating power-driven circular saws, band saws and guillotine shears. The basic minimum age for employment in nonagricultural occupations is 14. Fourteen- and 15-year-olds may work in certain occupations outside school hours, but not before 7 a.m. or later than 7 p.m. (9 p.m. from June 1 through Labor Day). They may not work more than three hours on a school day and 18 hours in a school week or eight hours on a non-school day and 40 hours in a week when school is not in session.

This investigation was conducted by the Wage and Hour Division’s Salt Lake City District Office, 150 East Social Hall Ave., Suite 695, Salt Lake City, Utah; phone: 801-524-5706. Youth employment compliance assistance is available at www.youthrules.dol.gov as well as on the Wage and Hour Division’s home page at www.wagehour.dol.gov. Information is also available toll-free at 866-4US-WAGE (487-9243).

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