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Are you a working Teen?
 
Work experience can be a great benefit to you and your employer! Regardless of where you work - restaurant, grocery store, office, or on a farm, OSHA's mission is to prevent injuries and protect the health of America's teen workers by promoting positive and safe work experiences. Youth at Work picture
Youth at Work picture
 
Work experience can be a great benefit to you, but it may also be hazardous...

Do you know that every year around 70 teens die from work injuries in the United States? Injuries occur from:

Teens are killed at work most often from:
  • Unsafe equipment
  • Stressful conditions
  • Inadequate safety training
  • Inadequate supervision
  • Dangerous work that is illegal or inappropriate for youth
  • Trying to hurry
  • Alcohol and drug use


Teen Workers Do you know that some jobs are considered too hazardous for you to perform?

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) prohibits workers under the age of 18 from doing tasks identified as hazardous such as driving forklifts, or using electric meat slicers. It also limits the hours you can work. Sara Safety Says, "Stop! It may not be legal for you to do this task."

 
Teen Workers Do you know that on-the-job injuries and deaths can occur in your workplace? Some youth workplace hazards to watch out for include:

 

Agricultural Hazards: Agriculture is the most dangerous industry for young workers. [NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths, Injuries, and Illnesses of Young Workers, (2003, July)].
  • 42% of the young workers killed from 1992-2000, lost their lives in farming jobs. A third of these accidents involved tractors

  • More than half of these fatalities occurred on farms owned by the victims' families.

For more information on work hazards and safety solutions in agriculture see:
Agricultural Jobs Potential Hazards
Farming jobs

If you are under 16 years old, Child Labor Laws forbid you from operating certain equipment, including tractors; state laws may be even more stringent.

 
  • Heavy machinery (Tractors)
  • Unprotected heights (Falls)
  • Falling or flying objects
  • Natural hazards
  • Electrocution
  • Organic dust
  • Confined spaces
  • Chemicals
  • Noise
Non-Agricultural Hazards: In non-agricultural trades retail has the highest number of workplace fatalities among young workers. Between 1992 and 2000, 63% of these deaths were due to assaults and violent acts. [NIOSH Alert: Preventing Deaths, Injuries, and Illnesses of Young Workers, (2003, July)].
Non-Agricultural Jobs Potential Hazards
Real Stories Real Stories of Youth Injury and Death.
Food service/
fast food


For more information on work hazards and solutions in restaurants work see:


Retail stores/grocery stores

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Homicide was the leading cause of death among youths in retail trade, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the youth fatalities in the industry.

Janitorial/clean-up/
maintenance work
 
Office/Clerical
  • Repetitive trauma (Typing)
  • Back and neck strain
  • Stress
Industry

If you are younger than 18 years old, you are not allowed to operate power-driven machines, including: 
  • power-driven meat slicers and meat grinders;
  • forklifts;
  • paper balers and cardboard compactors;
  • power-driven bakery equipment, including mixers;
  • power-driven woodworking equipment, including chain saws and circular saws.
Protecting Young Workers: Prohibition against Young Workers Operating Forklifts. OSHA Safety and Health Bulletin (30 September 2003), 4 pages. Also available as a 109 KB PDF.

Construction Work
  • If you are younger than 15 years old, you are not allowed to work on construction sites by law. 
Outdoor Work
 
For other potential general hazards that teens can be exposed to on the job See: Potential Hazards for Teens

 


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