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Young Worker Safety Train-the-Trainer. Objectives. 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. Objectives – cont.
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Objectives • 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
Objectives – cont. • Young Worker Safety in Maryland • OSHA and the Young Worker Initiative • Train-the-Trainer: Teaching Teens About Workplace Safety and Health
Incident People Work Environment
Young Worker Safety Resource Center • Labor Occupational Health Program, U.C. Berkeley, CA • Education Development Center, Inc., Newton, MA
Most teens work before they’re 18. • 80% of teens report that they’ve 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
:07 A teen is injured every seven minutes on the job. 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.
What types of injuries do teens experience? • Cuts 34% • Contusions 18% • Sprains 16% • Burns 12% • Fractures 4%
How serious are these injuries? • 15% to 44% of injured teens who receive workers’ compensation have been found to suffer permanent disability.
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
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
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
Some teens work in violation of labor laws: • For too many hours • In prohibited hazardous occupations • Without permits WORK ALERT Most states require Teens to have a valid permit to work. Schools, employers, and parents are part of the permit process.
Teens who work long hours 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
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
Who Can Play a Role in Protecting Young Workers? • Employers of Youth • Staff from: • School to Career programs • Workforce Investment Boards • Jobs for America’s Graduates • Transition-to-work programs for youth with disabilities • Community organizations • Apprenticeship programs • Government agencies • Parents • Youth
Young worker safety: Partners for prevention State and local strategies
Strong laws that are enforced Safe workplaces Adequate training & supervision Data to understand the problem Protecting young workers requires:
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
Department of Education Reach teens and parents Work permits Department of Labor Reach employers Enforce laws Job training Provide health & safety information Complementary roles:
Curricula Educational materials Public information Interagency plans Strengthening laws Outreach to employers Activities in other states
Part of teacher training (NJ, RI, CT, CA) Aligned with frameworks (ME) WIBs require safety training (CT) Curricula for teens: Making it part of the system
Reaching Vo-Tech Students: OSHA compliance assistance specialists provide 40 hour course to Teachers. Teachers deliver 10 hour course to students. (NJ & MA)
Educational Materials:Making it part of the systemSchoolsgive out brochures with work permits (MA)Dept. of Ed sends brochures to all schoolsin the spring (NH)Dept. of Labor sends posters to all employers of youth(ME)
Interagency PlanningCA Partnership for Young Worker Health and SafetyMass Young Worker Initiative CT Young Worker Team
Interagency Planning (cont)Strategies to reach employers, schools, youth-serving organizations, and parents.Strategies to improve data oninjuries and violations of lawsStrategies to improve coordination
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)
Reaching Out to Employers State and local strategies
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
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
Key Messages For Employers: • Employers need to provide hands-on training, observe the work • Employer need to encourage questions, speaking up
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
Other Ways To Get Information to Employers • With work permits • Through employer consultants (insurers, private health and safety consultants, OSHA consultation)
Through employer associations (newsletters, local presentations, conferences, websites)
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
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
Massachusetts: Warnings for Teens and Employers • Massachusetts Department of Public Health • Federal Department of Labor • Information and stickers distributed to thousands of employers
Young Workers in Maryland • No estimates produced for 14 & 15 yr. olds • LWD cases: 88 16 yr. olds; 51 17 yr. olds; 306 18 yr. olds • 63% sprains; 50% back injuries
Maryland Labor Laws • Teen Rights on the Job • Dangerous Work • Work Permits • Work Hours • Workers’ Compensation Benefits • MOSH