There Ought To Be a Law!

Teen, Work and Safety

Youth@Work: Talking SafetyYou will learn about:

• Some of the ways people (both youth and adults) can get hurt on the job.

• What to do if you see something at work that could hurt you or make you sick.

• What legal rights all workers have to make sure their jobs are safe.

• What extra protections young workers have under child labor laws.

There Ought To Be a Law!

• Job health and safety laws that protect all workers

• Child labor laws that give protection to young people

Unsafe Working Conditions

• How many of you work?• What kind of work do you

do?• Do you know anyone

who has bee hurt on the job?

• If so, what kind of injury?

Bibb Mill

Judith

Why Do Teens Work?

• The number one reason: MONEY

• Other reasons:– Work Experience– Sense of Independence– Parent’s influence

Most Teens Work Before They’re 18

• 80% of teens report that they have 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.

Teen Work Injury Statistics• Millions of U.S. teens work and thousands

are injured on the job every year• Many youth are injured on the job:

– 250,000 <18-year-olds injured/year in the US– 84,000 <18-year-olds to the ER for work

injuries– 70 <18-year-olds die each year– 90 18-19 year-olds die each year

• Young workers are injured at a higher rate than adult workers.

Thousands of Teens Are Injured on the Job

• Teen job injury rates:– Are higher for males than for females– Are higher for older teens than for younger

ones

• Common teen job injuries include cuts, sprains, strains, burns and fractures.

• An average of 70 U.S. teens (ages 16-17) die from job injuries every year. Leading causes of death were motor vehicles, farm machinery, other machines, electrocution, and homicides.

Teens are Injured at Higher Rates Than Adults

A teen is injured every six minutes on the job.

:06

Overhead #5

Where are Teens Injured?Other15%

Retail54%Agriculture

7%

Manufacturing4%

Service20%

Other11%

Retail54%

Agriculture 5%

Manufacturing 5%

Service25%

Tee

n W

ork

In

jury

Sta

tist

ics

Where Teens Work

Where Teens are Injured

Why are Young Workers Injured at High Rates?

Teens: The Hazards We Face in the Workplace

Video and Discussion

How Are Teens Injured?• Statistics show that many teen job injuries are

caused by:– Driving motor vehicles– Operating tractors– Handling hot liquids and grease– Using cutting tools– Using non-powered hand tools– Lifting heavy objects– Working late at night– Working aloneThe law prohibits teens from doing some of these

tasks, (but not all)

Why Teens are at Higher Risk for Injury than Adults:

• Low-pay, high turnover jobs

• Inexperience

• Lack of training and supervision

• Want to be responsible and appear competent

• Physical development

Teen Workers Often Do Not Get the Training They Need

• 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 not training.

Teens Who Work Long Hours May Experience:

• Lack of sleep• Difficulty staying awake in class and

less time for homework• Negative effects on learning• Moodiness and difficulty in controlling

emotions• Increased use of stimulants, e.g.

caffeine, nicotine

Children and Youth at Work in 1900

• The average laborer worked 10-14 hours per day, 6 days a week, for $1.50 a day.

• Two million children under 15 worked in industrial jobs for wages.

• Children aged 10-15 made up ¼ of the textile labor force in the South.

Children and Youth at Work in 1900

• Families received nothing when a worker was injured or killed.

• Only some states had laws that addressed working conditions

• Only some state required children to go to school.

Day #2

Teens, Work & Safety

Rules of the Game

• Each team should choose a team leader to speak for them.

• The first team can pick any category and dollar amount from the game board. The instructor will ask the corresponding question.

• The team then gets 30 seconds to agree on an answer, and the team leader gives the answer.

Rules of the Game (cont.)

• If the first team answers correctly, they get the dollar amount. Then the next team picks a category and dollar amount.

• If the first team answers incorrectly, another team is called on to answer the same question and so on, until one team gets the correct answer. (Does not apply on T/F questions).

• A team that gets a correct answer doesn’t get another turn. Another team will be called on.

Overhead #27

Know Your Rights

Rights on the Job

Dangerous Work and Work

Permits

Hours for Teens and

Working Safely

Job Injuries and Getting

Help

$100 $100 $100 $100

$200 $200 $200 $200

$300 $300 $300 $300

$400 $400 $400 $400

$500 $500 $500 $500

Jeopardy Game

Know Your Rights: Key Points

• Federal and state labor laws:– Set minimum age for some tasks– Protect teens from working too long, too late or too

early

• OSHA says every employer must provide:– A safe workplace– Safety training on certain hazards– Safety equipment

• By law, your employer is not allowed to fire or punish you for reporting a safety problem.

Handling Workplace Safety Problems

Steps in Problem Solving• Define the problem• Get advice • Choose your goals• Know your rights• Decide the best way to talk to the

supervisor• If necessary, contact an outside agency

for help.

Model Laws

When Were Laws Passed?1830s: States began to pass laws to

restrict child labor.

1904: National Child Labor Committee formed. More states pass

stronger child labor laws.

1911: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: Leads to some of the first

job safety legislation.

When Were Laws Passed?1916: Railroad workers are the first to

be guaranteed an 8-hour day.

1938: Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) is passed.

» Establishes a minimum wage» Prohibits youth under age 14 from doing most kinds of

formal work» Prohibits youth under age 18 from doing many kinds of

hazardous work.» Limits the hours that youth under age 16 can work.

When Were Laws Passed?

1970: Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) is passed.

» Requires employers to provide a safe and healthy workplace.

» Establishes specific protections from many types of hazards.

» Establishes OSHA as the enforcement agency.

Finding the Hazards

Job HazardsA job hazard is anything at work that can hurt you either physically or mentally.

• Safety hazards: knives, hot grease, etc.

• Chemical hazards: dusts, gases, vapors

• Biological hazards: living organisms

• Other health hazards: noise, radiation, repetitive movements, heat, cold, stress

Overhead #9

Find the Hazards: Fast FoodIl

lust

rate

d W

ork

pla

ces

Overhead #10

Find the Hazards: Grocery StoreIl

lust

rate

d W

ork

pla

ces

Overhead #11

Find the Hazards: OfficeIl

lust

rate

d W

ork

pla

ces

Overhead #12

Find the Hazards: Gas StationIl

lust

rate

d W

ork

pla

ces

Overhead #15

Controlling Hazards

Removethe Hazard(e.g., use safer

chemicals)

Work Policies and Procedures

(e.g., assign enough people to do the job)

Personal Protective Equipment (e.g., wear gloves, use a respirator)

Finding Hazards: Key Points

• Every job has health and safety hazards

• You should always be aware of these hazards

• Find out about chemicals at work by checking labels, readings MSDSs, and getting training.

Stay Safe at Work