Debora%20Jones,%20RN,%20COHN-S,%20MPH

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Young Worker SafetyTrain-the-Trainer

• Debora Jones, RN, COHN-S, MPH

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• 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

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• Young Worker Safety in Maryland
• OSHA and the Young Worker Initiative
• Train-the-Trainer Teaching Teens About
  Workplace Safety and Health

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Incident
People
Work
Environment
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Young Worker Safety Resource Center

• Labor Occupational Health Program, U.C. Berkeley,
  CA
• Education Development Center, Inc., Newton, MA

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Most teens work before theyre 18.

• 80 of teens report that theyve 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

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Where do teens work?
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Teens are injured at higher rates than adults

• Every year 230,000 teens are injured on the job.
• 77,000 15- to 17-year-olds visit the emergency
  room
• for 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.

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Where are teens injured?
Where Teens Work
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What types of injuries do teens experience?

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

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How serious are these injuries?

• 15 to 44 of injured teens who receive
  workers compensation have been found to suffer
  permanent
• disability.

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Teens get injured doing common yet dangerous
tasks

• Using cutting and/or non-powered hand tools
• Handling hot liquids and grease
• Working around cooking appliances
• Continuous manual lifting of heavy objects

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(continued) 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

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

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Some teens work in violation of labor laws
WORK ALERT Most states require Teens to have a
valid permit to work. Schools, employers, and
parents are part of the permit process.

• For too many hours
• In prohibited hazardous occupations
• Without permits

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Teens who work longhours 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

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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 no training

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Who Can Play a Role in Protecting Young Workers?

• Employers of Youth
• Staff from
• School to Career programs
• Workforce Investment Boards
• Jobs for Americas Graduates
• Transition-to-work programs for youth
• with disabilities
• Community organizations
• Apprenticeship programs
• Government agencies
• Parents
• Youth

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Young worker safety Partners for prevention

• State and local strategies

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Protecting young workers requires

• Strong laws that are enforced
• Safe workplaces
• Adequate training supervision
• Data to understand the problem

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A team approach is needed
State Dept of Labor
State Dept of Education
State Dept of Health
Employer Groups
Workforce Investment Boards
COSHes and Unions
Youth Serving Organizations
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Complementary roles

• Department of Education
• Reach teens and parents
• Work permits
• Department of Labor
• Reach employers
• Enforce laws
• Job training
• Provide health safety information

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Activities in other states

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

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Curricula for teens
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Curricula for teens Making it part of the system

• Part of teacher training
• (NJ, RI, CT, CA)
• Aligned with frameworks
• (ME)
• WIBs require
• safety training
• (CT)

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Reaching Vo-Tech Students
OSHA compliance assistance specialists provide 40
hour course to Teachers. Teachers deliver 10
hour course to students. (NJ MA)
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Educational Materials (CA, CT)
Educational materials Teens (CA, CT)
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Educational Materials Teens (ME, NH, NJ)
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Educational MaterialsParents (MA, NJ)
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Educational MaterialsOthers
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Educational MaterialsMaking it part of the
systemSchools 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)
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Interagency PlanningCA Partnership for Young
Worker Health and SafetyMass Young Worker
Initiative CT Young Worker Team
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Interagency Planning (cont)Strategies to reach
employers, schools, youth-serving organizations,
and parents.Strategies to improve data on
injuries and violations of lawsStrategies to
improve coordination
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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)
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Reaching Out to Employers

• State and local strategies

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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
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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

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Key Messages For Employers

• Employers need to provide hands-on training,
  observe the work
• Employer need to encourage questions, speaking up

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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

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Other Ways To Get Information to Employers

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

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

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• Websites

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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

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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

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Massachusetts Warnings for Teens and Employers

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health
• Federal Department of Labor
• Information and stickers distributed to thousands
  of employers

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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

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Maryland Labor Laws

• Teen Rights on the Job
• Dangerous Work
• Work Permits
• Work Hours
• Workers Compensation Benefits
• MOSH

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Next Steps?