Starting Safety Young
If we can train our youth to be safety conscious on their first jobs, they are more likely to promote a safer working environment as adults.
We all have to start somewhere and youth employment is an important topic in safety.
It is an unfortunate fact that children do get injured, even killed, in the workplace. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health estimates that 160,000 American children suffer occupational injuries every year—and 54,800 of these injuries are serious enough to warrant emergency room treatment.
Employers should be aware of Youth Employment Laws that go along with the standard regulations in your industry. Federal and state rules/regulations regarding young workers must have a balance between possibilities for educational opportunities and allowing the appropriate work experiences.
To ensure that you maintain compliance with Youth Employment, the Department of Labor suggests using the process of
TIPS: Train employees, Identify violations, Promote compliance, and Share accountability.
Train Employees
Compliance materials for Youth Regulations can be downloaded from www.youthrules.dol.gov or from your local Wage and Hour Office
Remember to integrate youth employment laws and your youth employment policies into training (i.e., orientation) for both the youth and the people managing the youth
Make sure the young workers know which equipment is off limits
To promote safety, attach safety reminders to paychecks or time cards
Conduct refresher training
Identify Violations
Designate a youth employment compliance director
Conduct unplanned inspections and make safety compliance into a routine or protocol
Monitor hours worked by youth and record appropriate safety observations/violations
Hotlines for youth employees can help promote a safer working environment
Always keep communications lines open when discussing the equipment being operated
Promote Compliance
Prevent young employees from being scheduled the latest cut time or longest shift
Prepare two schedules: one for employees 16 and under and one for employees over 16
Permit shift swapping for employees on the same schedule and have the manager oversee
Require proof of age at the time of hiring and consider color coding youth uniforms, badges, etc.
Make sure all hazardous equipment has proper warning labels and instructions
Share Accountability
Encourage youth to say “no” to working too late or operating hazardous equipment if uncomfortable
Managers should be monitoring compliance and safety regulations, especially when it comes to youth employees
Testing/Training of safety knowledge, procedures, and policies before the youth begin work and during their employment
We all have to start somewhere and youth employment is an important topic in safety.