Teen workers can be an asset to your workforce. They are enthusiastic and eager to learn. However, injuries can have a lifelong impact. On-the-job injuries to teens can be costly, even deadly.
In 1994, according to NIOSH: Each year about 70 teens die and about 77,000 are injured seriously enough to require hospital emergency department treatment. An estimated 230,000 working teens may be injured each year.

• The FLSA and state laws provide child labor provisions that were designed to protect minors in non-agricultural and agricultural employment by restricting the types of jobs and the number of hours they may work.
  
  
• Non-agricultural youth workers: hours permitted and jobs permitted.
  
  
• Agricultural youth workers: hours permitted and jobs permitted.
  
  
• Employers must post the FLSA Required Minimum Wage Poster.

• Employers must assess the hazards in their workplace, select the appropriate (PPE) personal protective equipment for their employees, (such as gloves, aprons, and foot protection) and have their employees use the PPE [1910.132(a)] and [1910.132(d)].
  
  
• Employers must make any employees exposed to hazardous materials aware of the hazards and train them to protect themselves from these hazards [1910.1200 Hazard Communication Standard].
  
  
• Employers must display a poster prepared by the DOL or your state labor department informing employees of the protections of the Occupational Safety and Health Act P.L. 91-596, December 29, 1970 and its amendments.

• A review of the worksite to eliminate identified hazards and ensure jobs are as safe as possible.
  • Youth Rules! Protecting the Working Teen. Onsite Consultation, DCEO, and the OSHA North Aurora and Chicago North Area Offices, 384 KB Video, 8 minutes. This video is intended to assist employers in understanding what their responsibilities are for providing a safe and healthful workplace for teenage workers as well as how to recognize and eliminate workplace hazards.
• Provide training to ensure that adolescents recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices. Training should include how to prepare for fires, accidents, violent situations, and what to do if they get injured. Teens need to know that if they get injured, they have the right to file a claim to cover their medical benefits and some of their lost work time.
  
  
• Provide appropriate supervisors for teens that recognize hazards and are competent in safe work practices.
  
  
• Routinely verify through supervision that teens continue to recognize hazards and use safe work practices.
  
  
• Stress safety, particularly among first-line supervisors; they have the greatest opportunity to influence teens and their work habits.
  
  
• Implement a mentoring or buddy system for new youth workers. Have either an adult or experienced teen be a buddy to answer questions to help the inexperienced worker learn the ropes of a new job.
  
  
• Encourage teens to ask questions about tasks or procedures that are unclear or not understood.
  
  
• Remember that teens are not just "little adults." Employers must be mindful of the unique aspects of communicating with teens.
  
  
• Ensure that equipment operated by teens is both legal and safe for them to use. Employers should label equipment young workers are not allowed to operate. The YouthRules! website has available downloadable stickers for employers to place on hazardous equipment to alert all workers that no one under 18 years of age may operate the equipment. There is also a sticker designed specifically for forklifts developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
  
  
• Develop a drug-free workplace program. Abuse of alcohol and other drugs by workers of any age creates significant but avoidable workplace hazards. Research indicates that adolescents who work longer hours may be more at risk for alcohol and drug abuse. Drug-free workplace programs that educate employees about drug issues help improve workplace safety and health and send a clear, early signal to young workers that in order to work, they must be drug free.
  
  
• Develop a safety and health program in your facility to help prevent workplace injuries.
  • Safety and Health Programs Safety and Health Topic Page.
  • Safety and Health Management System eTool.
  • OSHA's $afety Pays software can assist you in understanding how injuries are adversely impacting your profits.
• A strong safety and health program involves all workers, supervisors, management, experienced workers, and teen workers.
  
  
• Many safety and health problems and injuries can be prevented through simple workplace or work process redesign.
  
  
• For help in establishing or improving your safety and health program, see the OSHA Consultation Program Directory.
  
  
• Additional help for small businesses can be found at OSHA's Small Business Outreach Training Program Safety and Health Topics Page, including a Self-Inspection Checklist.

• Fact Sheet #2 Restaurants and Fast Food Establishments under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
  
  
• Fact Sheet #32 Youth Minimum Wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act.
  
  
• Fact Sheet #34 Important Changes in the Child Labor Laws Affecting the Driving of Automobiles and Trucks Under Hazardous Occupations Order No. 2.
  
  
• Fact Sheet #37 Application of the Federal Child Labor Provisions to Amusement Parks and Recreation Establishments.
  
  
• Fact Sheet #38 Application of the Federal Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) to Grocery Stores.
  
  
• Fact Sheet #40 Federal Child Labor Laws in Farm Jobs. [Spanish]
  
  
• Fact Sheet #41 Fast Food, Full Service Restaurant, and Supermarket Industries Child Labor Compliance Survey.
  
  
• Fact Sheet #43 Child Labor Provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) for Nonagricultural Occupations. [Spanish]

• Employer's Pocket Guide on Youth Employment. [Spanish]
  
  
• Agricultural Employer's Pocket Guide on Youth Employment. [Spanish]
  
  
• Child Labor Requirements in Nonagricultural Occupations Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (Child Labor Bulletin 101).
  
  
• Important Change in the Child Labor Laws Affecting Affecting Hazardous Occupations Order No. 10 and the Loading of Scrap Paper Balers and Paper Box Compactors.

• St Cloud Firm Fined $58,925 for Federal Child Labor Violations After 17 year old Loses His Arm [1/2000].
  
  
• 12 Year-Old's Arm Severed in Webster, New York Cider Mill Accident [8/2000].
  
  
• Tyson Foods, Inc. Fined $59,274 Following the Death and Injury of Illegally Employed Young Workers [10/13/1999].
  
  
• Wyoming Company Fined the Maximum Penalty for Child Labor Violations [12/15/1997].