U.S. Department of Labor | ||||||
Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
OSHA News Release
2004 - 05/18/2004 - Federal Agencies Launch Effort to Help Teen Workers Stay Safe and Healthy on the Job this Summer |
OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
OSHA Trade Release May 18, 2004 Contact: Frank Meilinger Phone: (202)693-1999 Federal Agencies Launch Effort to Help Teen Workers Stay Safe and Healthy on the Job this Summer
WASHINGTON -- Millions of American teens are preparing to enter the workforce this summer doing a variety of jobs that will teach them valuable skills. While most will earn extra money and gain valuable work experience, many risk being seriously or even fatally injured on the job. Eighty percent of U.S. teenagers work during their high school years. In 2001, 45,000 teens were injured at work, and 175 died as a result of an on the job injury. To address this challenge, numerous federal agencies, collectively known as the Federal Network for Young Worker Safety and Health (FedNet) have joined together to educate teens, their parents, counselors and employers on how young people can stay safe on the job. FedNet's latest web-based product, Teen Summer Jobs: Safety Pays is available at www.osha.gov/SLTC/youth/summerjobs/index.html,. It provides teen worker safety and health materials in English and Spanish. Topics covered include safe driving, lawn care, life guarding, farm work, construction, parks and recreation and restaurants. "This new resource will help teen-agers get the information necessary to keep them safe on the job," said OSHA Administrator John Henshaw. "By providing practical information on a wide range of work activities, we can help ensure that young people have safe and healthy work experiences." There are five basic things teens can do to help reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses:
OSHA's role is to assure the safety and health of America's workers by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach, and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov. ###
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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents |
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