Workplace Health & Safety

1. Explain the purpose and function of OSHA in the workplace

2. Identify and explain the labor laws that govern teens in the workplace

3. Understand the operations of the labor market, including the circumstances surrounding the establishment of principal American labor unions, procedures that unions use to gain benefits for their members, the effects of unionization, the minimum wage, and unemployment insurance. 

4. Identify federal regulatory agencies and laws that protect consumers, workers, investors, and the environment

5. Understand the influence of the federal government through regulatory agencies on the American economy.

Youth@Work: Talking Safety

You 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 special protection to young people

Unsafe Working ConditionsHow 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?

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 StatisticsMany 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

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

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

ones.An average of 70 U.S. teens (ages 16-17)

died from job injuries every year during the 1990’s. 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.

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Overhead #5

Where are Teens Injured?Other15%

Retail54%Agriculture

7%

Manufacturing4%

Service20%

Other11%

Retail54%

Agriculture 5%

Manufacturing 5%

Service25%Te

en

Work

In

jury

S

tati

sti

cs

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

InexperienceLack of training and

supervisionWant to be

responsible and appear competent

Physical development

Teens Who Work Long Hours May Experience:

Lack of sleepDifficulty staying awake in class and less time for homework

Negative effects on learningMoodiness and difficulty in controlling emotions

Increased use of stimulants, e.g. caffeine, nicotine

Bibb Mill

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

Model Laws

Model Laws

Model LawsIdentify the health, safety and

other labor abuses show in each story and propose laws that might prevent them. To help you, each story is followed by a set of questions.

Propose laws that you think might solve the problems, regardless of whether these laws actually exist.

Recorder/Reporter/Facilitator

There Ought to Be a Law!

Fast Food◦Jennifer Forshee

The Mule-Room◦Al Priddy

The Carpet Weavers◦New Delhi, India

Day #3

Teen Workers’ Rights

Check Your UnderstandingEach team should choose a team

leader to speak for them.The first team gets 15 seconds to

come up with an answer. Their team gets 10 points if they give the correct answer.

If they don’t answer correctly, any other team can volunteer an answer, and gets 10 points if it is correct.

Is There a Law?

Model Law Actual Law

If you need gloves to do your job safely, your employer must pay for them.

Your employer must provide any protective clothing or equipment you need. (Are You a Working Teen?, page 2)

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.

Day #4

Applying the Law

Key Legal Points

California Labor Laws:◦Set a minimum age for some types of dangerous work

◦Prohibit hazardous tasks◦Limit work during early morning and late night hours

◦Set maximum working hours per day and per week

Job Health & Safety Laws

California Law says that every employer must:

Provide a workplace that is safe and healthfulFollow all Cal/OSHA health and safety

regulationsGive all workers health and safety training,

including information on toxic materialsSet up a system for workers to report hazards

without fear of punishmentProvide necessary safety equipment

(including gloves, respirators, etc.)

More Worker RightsIn most cases, every worker has a right to:

Earn at least the minimum wage

Get medical care and lost wages paid through workers’ compensation if injured on the job

Join or organize a union Work without racial or

sexual harassment

Who Enforces the Law in CA?

Laws Enforced by Child Labor ………………..…..Labor Commissioner Job health & safety………..…..Cal/OHSA Minimum wage…………......…Labor Commissioner Worker’s compensation……...Department of

Industrial Relations, Division of Workers’ Compensation

Union rights…………………...Labor Commissioner Racial or sexual………………Department of Fair

discrimination Employment and Housing

Rights on the Job

Case Study #1: Juan A. Case Study #2: Tanya B.

List the violations of law that the group found.

For each law listed, briefly explain whether this law could have prevented the injury.

Briefly explain what consensus the group reached (if any) on what Juan should have done.

List the violations of law that the group found.

For each law listed, briefly explain whether this law could have prevented the injury.

Briefly explain what consensus the group reached (if any) on what Tanya should have done

Rights on the Job

Case Study #1: Juan A. Case Study #2: Tanya B.

Workplace Health & Safety

1. Explain the purpose and function of OSHA in the workplace

2. Identify and explain the labor laws that govern teens in the workplace