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you are here: Home » Workplace Connections » Teens' Summer Jobs Often Lead to Injuries
April 20, 2006 Teens' Summer Jobs Often Lead to Injuries
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, teens have the highest rate of nonfatal work-related injuries, even though they will come across the same work hazards as their adult co-workers. "Teens and parents need to educate themselves," said Jackie Nowell, director of the Occupational Health and Safety for the United Food and Commercial Workers union. "Kids are working later than they should and longer than they should. We don't have the best laws we could have for child labor in terms of hours of work." This is why Nowell and other organizations encourage teens and their parents to know the rules and regulations surrounding teen jobs. Teen injuries are not just caused by those who "goof off" on the job. They are also due to lack of experience, gaps in current laws and enforcement, inexperienced supervisors, and working in industries that don't generally hire professionals trained in safety and physical limitations due to size and strength. "Where anyone has to deal with the public and money, we see the highest amount of robbery," said Nowell, of places where teens usually work. "That's a problem." The National Consumer League has put together the five worst jobs for teens for 2005: agriculture, construction and work in heights, landscaping, driver/operator and door-to-door sales. The Occupational Health and Safety Web site provides tips for teens working in the most popular fields: restaurant, construction, lawn care/landscaping, farm work, lifeguarding and parks/recreation. Parents and teens can go here to find up-to-date regulations to make sure their employer complies -- www.osha.gov/SLTC/youth/summerjobs/index.html. NIOSH gives the following tips to teen workers:
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