debora jones, rn, cohn-s, mph young worker safety train-the-trainer

Debora Jones, RN, COHN-S, MPH

Young Worker SafetyTrain-the-Trainer

• Introductions

• Your Views on the Young Worker

• The Young Worker Safety Resource Center: Understanding the Issues

• Partnering for Prevention: State and Local Strategies

• Reaching Out to Employers

• Young Worker Safety in Maryland

• OSHA and the Young Worker Initiative

• Train-the-Trainer: Teaching Teens About Workplace Safety and Health

PeoplePeople

WorkWork

EnvironmentEnvironment

Labor Occupational

Health Program, U.C.

Berkeley, CA

Education Development

Center, Inc., Newton,

MA

Young Worker Safety Resource Center

80% of teens report that they’ve held jobs before completing high school

15- to 17-year-olds with jobs work an average of 17 hours per week during school months and 23 hours per week during summer months

Most teens work before they’re 18.

Retail54%

Service25%

Agriculture5%

Manufacturing5%

Other11%

RetailServiceAgricultureManufacturingOther

Where do teens work?

Every year 230,000 teens are injured on the job.

77,000 15- to 17-year-olds visit the emergency roomfor work-related injuries.

70 teens 15-17 are killed on the job each year. 90 teens 18-19 years old are killed on the job each year.

Teens are injured at higher rates than adults:

:07A teen is injured every seven

minutes on the job.

Retail54%

Service20%

Agriculture7%

Manufacturing4%

Other15%

Where are teens injured?Where Teens Work

54%

25%

5%

5%

11%

RetailServiceAgricultureManufacturingOther

What types of injuries do teens experience?

Cuts 34% Contusions 18% Sprains 16% Burns 12% Fractures 4%

15% to 44% of injured

teens who receive

workers’ compensation

have been found to

suffer permanent

disability.

How serious are these injuries?

Using cutting and/or non-powered hand

tools

Handling hot liquids and grease

Working around cooking appliances

Continuous manual lifting of heavy objects

Teens get injured doing common yet dangerous tasks:

Operating tractors or heavy machinery

Driving or working around motor vehicles

Working near electrical hazards while using ladders,

poles, etc.

Working late at night or alone

(continued)

Teens get injured doing common yet dangerous tasks:

Why are teens injured on the job at such high rates?

Why teens get injured on the job: Hazards on the job

Inexperienced

Want to be responsible and appear competent

Developmental characteristics

Some are working in violation of the child

labor laws

Lack of training and supervision

Some teens work in violation of labor laws:

For too many hours

In prohibited hazardous occupations

Without permits

WORK ALERTMost states require Teens to have a valid permit to work.

Schools, employers, and parents are part of the permit process.

Lack of sleep

Difficulty staying awake in class and less time

for homework

Negative effects on learning

Moodiness and difficulty in controllingemotions

Increased use of stimulants, e.g. caffeine,

nicotine

Teens who work longhours may experience:

Studies and surveys reveal that young workers do not receive adequate health and safety training at work

Youth are often assigned potentially dangerous tasks for which they receive no training

Teen workers often do not get the training they need:

Employers of Youth

Staff from:School to Career programsWorkforce Investment BoardsJobs for America’s GraduatesTransition-to-work programs for youth

with disabilitiesCommunity organizationsApprenticeship programs

Government agencies

Parents

Youth

Who Can Play a Role in Protecting Young Workers?

State and local

strategies

Young worker safety: Partners for prevention

Strong laws that are enforced

Safe workplaces

Adequate training & supervision

Data to understand the problem

Protecting young workers requires:

A team approach is needed

EmployerGroups

State Dept of Health

State Dept of Labor

State Dept of Education

COSHes andUnions

Workforce Investment

BoardsYouth Serving Organizations

Department of Education Reach teens and parents Work permits

Department of Labor Reach employers Enforce laws Job training Provide health & safety information

Complementary roles:

Curricula Educational materials Public information Interagency plans Strengthening laws Outreach to employers

Activities in other states

Curricula for teens

Part of teacher training (NJ, RI, CT, CA)

Aligned with frameworks (ME)

WIBs require safety training(CT)

Curricula for teens: Making it part of the system

Reaching Vo-Tech Students:

OSHA compliance assistance specialists provide 40 hour course to Teachers.

Teachers deliver 10 hour course to students.

(NJ & MA)

Educational Materials (CA, CT)

Educational materials Teens (CA, CT)

Educational Materials Teens (ME, NH, NJ)

Educational MaterialsParents (MA, NJ)

Educational MaterialsOthers

Educational Materials:Making it part of the system

Schools give out brochures with work permits (MA)

Dept of Ed sends brochures to all

schools in the spring (NH)

Dept of Labor sends posters to all

employers of youth (ME)

Interagency Planning

CA Partnership for Young Worker Health and Safety

Mass Young Worker Initiative

CT Young Worker Team

Interagency Planning (cont)

Strategies to reach employers, schools, youth-serving organizations, and parents.

Strategies to improve data on injuries and violations of laws

Strategies to improve coordination

Laws and Regulations Limits on working with pesticides/ working alone in a cash business (ME)

Job placement staff must be trained in safety and health (NJ)

Teen peer leaders advocate for limits on working alone after 8pm (MA)

State and local

strategies

Reaching Out to Employers

What Are Employers’ PrimaryResponsibilities?

+ Provide a safe workplace (equipment, chemical exposures, violence, etc.)+ Know and be in compliance with child labor laws, health and safety regulations+ Training + Supervision, including opportunities for employees to ask questions, report problems

Key Messages For Employers:

• Teens can be great, enthusiastic workers

• Teens tend not to speak up or ask questions

• Employers play a valuable role in training and mentoring young workers

Key Messages For Employers:

• Employers need to provide hands-on training, observe the work

• Employer need to encourage questions, speaking up

Ways Educators Can Work With Employers:

• Provide written information

• Discuss on-site health and safety training for youth

• Report and follow-up on unsafe conditions

Other Ways To Get Information to Employers

• With work permits

• Through employer consultants (insurers, private health and safety consultants, OSHA consultation)

• Through employer associations (newsletters, local presentations, conferences, websites)

• Websites

Maine: Developed and Distributed Employer Kit

• Maine Department of Labor

• Kit contains training activities, brochures, wallet cards, poster, “STOP” sticker

• 3000 kits mailed to employers and educators

Washington: Educating Restaurant Employers

• Washington Department of Labor and Industries

• Washington Restaurant Association

• Workshops for hundreds of restaurant employers throughout state

• http://www.lni.wa.gov/scs/workstandards/teensafety

Massachusetts: Warnings for Teens and Employers

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health

• Federal Department of Labor

• Information and stickers distributed to thousands of employers

Young Workers in Maryland

• No estimates produced for 14 & 15 yr. olds

• LWD cases: 88 16 yrs; 51 17 yrs; 306 18 yrs

• 63% sprains; 50% back injuries

Maryland Labor Laws

• Teen Rights on the Job

• Dangerous Work

• Work Permits

• Work Hours

• Workers’ Compensation Benefits

• MOSH

Next Steps?