Teens Face Risks from Summer Jobs

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

Steve Clark reports on the issue of summer jobs and the inherent risks those can pose to teen workers.  He notes that most teens find themselves in need of summer work to offset future costs of higher education, not to mention earning a few dollars to spend on leisure activities.  With increased fuel costs, the pressure on teens to make a contribution - especially once reaching driving age can be staggering. 
But with an inexperienced worker (and our teens are very much inexperienced) when it comes to bosses, workplace safety, and other issues that more experienced adult workers take for granted first time work poses significant challenges if a teen worker is not provided with proper guidance and support.  As inexperienced workers, some may even feel reluctant to stand up to pressures from supervisors to do things that they do not fully understand and are risky.
OSHA and state regulators restrict the employment opportunities of young people. Although state rules vary somewhat, in general, teens under 14 can babysit, deliver newspapers or work as actors or performers. After 14, they can work in an office, a grocery store, a retail store, a restaurant, a movie theater or an amusement park. At 16, they can work anywhere that is not hazardous; this excludes mining, logging, meatpacking, roofing, excavation and demolition as well as work with saws, explosives, radioactive materials and most power-driven machines. After 18, despite their relative inexperience as workers, teens are considered adults and can work anywhere they can find a job.
For guidance in helping your teen understand and adjust to a new summer job, turn to OSHA’s Youth 2 Work website, a very useful tool highlighting construction, farm work, restaurants, lifeguarding, driving and landscaping. A subsection, YouthRules!, supplies additional information for teens, parents, educators and employers. The site urges parents to investigate and discuss possible hazards with their teens and, if necessary, support them in reporting dangers to their managers. The National Young Worker Safety Resource Center and Young Worker Safety and Health (NIOSH) are two additional, good online resources. Many states also have websites that address teen worker safety.
[source:  Laborer’s Health and Safety Fund of North America, Lifelines - online]