Young worker safety and health
Around the world, nearly 250 million children, about one in every six children, ages 5 through 17, are involved in
In 2006, 30 youth under 18 died from work-related injuries in the U.S.[3] In 2003, an estimated 54,800 work-related injuries and illnesses among youth less than 18 years of age were treated in hospital emergency departments. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reports that only one-third of work-related injuries are seen in emergency departments, therefore it is likely that approximately 160,000 youth sustain work-related injuries and illnesses each year.[4] The highest number of teen worker fatalities occur in agricultural work and the retail trades, according to recent data.[5] Across Europe, 18- to 24-year-olds are at least 50% more likely to be injured in the workplace than more experienced workers.[6]
Work that poses special risks for young workers
Because of their biologic, social, and economic characteristics, young workers have unique and substantial risks for work-related injuries and illnesses. Besides retail and agriculture, other areas of high risk for work-related injuries include construction and work activities involving motor vehicles and mobile machinery. Although safety requirements and
Work in agriculture
There are roughly 250,000 children who work on U.S. farms, that do not live on the farm, and another 30 million children who visit farms annually.
Experiences and exposures across different sectors of agriculture vary greatly. For example, children who worked on tobacco farms experienced a number of negative health effects including nausea, heat exhaustion, and burning eyes.[11]
Work in construction
Between the years 1998 and 2002, construction accidents accounted for 18% of youth worker fatalities,[10] making construction the second most deadly industry for a young worker to be employed in during that time period. A significant number of young worker fatalities in this sector resulted from work that the young worker was not legally authorized to do. For example, 16-year-old workers accounted for almost 20% of the young worker fatalities in the construction sector between 1998 and 2002, even though workers 16 and younger are legally unauthorized to enter a construction site;[10] if they do work for the construction industry, they can only work in an office or sales department.[10] Additionally, Hispanic and Latino young workers made up 35% of the young worker fatalities in the construction sector.[10] Hispanics make up 14.4% of the United States' general population.[12]
Work in retail trades
The second highest number of workplace fatalities between 1993 and 1997 among workers younger than age 18 occurred in the
In 1998, more than half of all work-related nonfatal injuries to young workers occurred in retail trades, more than 60% of which were eating and drinking establishments. Cuts in retail trades were the most common type of injury treated in emergency departments, followed by burns in eating and drinking establishments and bruises, scrapes, and scratches in other retail settings.[15] Common hazards in restaurants include using knives to prepare food, handling hot grease from fryers, working near hot surfaces, and slipping on wet or greasy floors.[16] In addition, certain types of machinery prohibited for use by young workers under current
U.S. federal and state programs
OSHA
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) within the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is the Federal agency with primary responsibility for setting and enforcing standards to promote safe and healthful working conditions for all workers. Employers are responsible for becoming familiar with standards applicable to their establishments and for ensuring a safe working environment.
U.S. Public Health Service
The
NIOSH
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention plays a lead role in efforts to reduce injuries and illnesses among working youth by conducting and supporting science to guide prevention efforts, disseminating findings, and working with others in collaborative outreach.
The NIOSH funds the National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety.[19][20]
Federal child labor laws
A workplace may be fully compliant with OSHA regulations and yet may place young workers at risk of injury or illness if applicable federal and state child labor laws are not followed. One study estimated that more than three-fourths of employers of young workers were unfamiliar with child labor laws. Lack of awareness of occupational safety and health laws by young workers, adults, and employers has been identified as a major obstacle to preventing injury and illness in young workers.
State child labor laws
States may also have their own child labor laws that are stricter than federal laws. If a state child labor law is less protective than federal law, or if no applicable state law exists, Federal child labor laws apply.[10]
See also
- Youth hearing conservation programs
- National Safety Council
References
- ^ a b "Hazardous child labour". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on October 23, 2004. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ Bureau of Labor Statistics [2007]. Employment and Earnings, Annual Averages, Table 15. Employed persons in agriculture and related and in nonagricultural industries by age, sex, and class of worker Data source: Current Population Survey.
- ^ Bureau of Labor Statistics [2007]. National Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries in 2006. Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, USDL 07-1202.
- ^ "NIOSH- Young Worker Safety and Health". United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
- ^ "NIOSH Update: Preventing Teen Worker Deaths, Injuries: NIOSH Issues New, Expanded Bulletin". United States National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Retrieved 2007-10-05.
- ^ "Too many young people are getting hurt at work". European Agency for Safety and Health at Work. Retrieved 2007-10-14.
- ^ Furlong, Andy (2013). Youth Studies: An Introduction. New York: Routledge. p. 236.
- ^ "Keep kids safe on farm - AgriNews". www.agrinewspubs.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ "Farm-related childhood deaths are down, but still too many". southwestfarmpress.com. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Windau, Janice; Samuel Meyer (October 2005). "Occupational injuries among young workers" (PDF). Monthly Labor Review: 11–23. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ "Kids working on tobacco farms experience nicotine poisoning - CNN.com". CNN. 17 May 2014. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ U.S. Census Bureau (2007). "Population of the United States by Race and Hispanic/Latino Origin, Census 2000 and July 1, 2005". National Population Estimates. Pearson Education, Inc. Retrieved 2009-06-18.
- ^ Windau J, Sygnatur E, Toscano G [1999]. Profile of work injuries incurred by young workers. Monthly Labor Review, June 1999.
- ^ NIOSH [1996a]. Current intelligence bulletin 57: Violence in the workplace; risk factors and prevention strategies. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 96–100.
- ^ Mardis AL, Pratt SG [2003]. Nonfatal injuries to young workers in the retail trades and service industries in 1998. J Occup Environ Med 45(3):316–323.
- ^ NRC/IOM (National Research Council, Institute of Medicine) [1998]. Protecting youth at work: health, safety, and development of working children and adolescents in the United States. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
- ^ Massachusetts Department of Public Health [1998]. Work-related injuries to teens. Newsletter from the teens at work: injury surveillance and prevention project. Boston, MA: Occupational Health Surveillance Program.
- ^ "Occupational Safety and Health | Healthy People 2020". www.healthypeople.gov. Retrieved 2017-02-01.
- ^ "National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety | Youth.gov". youth.gov. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ "Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation - National Children's Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety". www.marshfieldresearch.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
External links
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health – Young Worker Safety and Health
- OSHA's Teen Works
- My First Job - Information for young workers about Health and Safety and employment rights
- Youth Rules!
- Youth@Work
- National Young Worker Safety Resource Center
- The Child Labor Coalition
- Farm Safety 4 Just Kids
- European Union "Safe Start" Campaign
- WHO- Hazardous Child Labor
- Workplace Fatality’s & the Aftermath United Support & Memorial for Workplace Fatalities
- Young Workers United