1. Keeping Teens Safe at Work Beatriz Vautin, MPH Teens at Work Project Occupational Health Surveillance Program Massachusetts Department of Public Health Funded in part by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

2. Background data An estimated 160,000 teens in the US are injured at work every year 66,000 teens are injured seriously enough to visit the emergency room every year Over 50 teens are killed on the job every year Teens have high overall rate of non-fatal injuries compared to adults: good data are not available on rates for youth vs adults in specific jobs

3. Risk Factors for Young Workers Job hazards Inexperience Inadequate training and supervision Employment in inappropriate/illegal jobs Development characteristics (not just little adults) Physical Psychosocial Balancing school and work

4. Work-related Injuries to Young Workers by Age, Gender, and Data Source Massachusetts: 2002-2006 Age - Years Gender

5. Work-related Injuries to Young Workers by Injury Type and Data Source Massachusetts: 2002-2006

6. Occupational Injuries to Young Workers by Selected Industry, Massachusetts: 2002-2006

7. Interviews with Teens Injured at Work Massachusetts: July 1994-2003 * Anticipated permanent pain, limited sensation or loss of movement. 798 Interviews

8. Narrative Results 10% reported that the equipment being used was malfunctioning or a safety device had been removed. “The french fryer was low in oil partly because it hadn’t been working properly. We had notified the owner and manager but nothing had been done about it.” 9% appeared to be performing a task or working hours prohibited under the child labor laws. “I was using the deli slicer to cut up lettuce.” “I was working at 2:30 a.m. at a retail bakery.” 10% waited a day or more before seeking medical treatment. “When I woke up in the a.m., my hand was swollen and red and purple, so I went to the ER where I was diagnosed with second degree burns.” 4% of adolescents reported that their supervisors made them stay at work. “Then I went to the supervisor who did not want to fill out an accident report and told me to work light duty. I worked 2 shifts that day while my finger kept bleeding.”

9. Connecting Activities What can teachers use to teach health and safety to teens? What resources are available to help with the Work-Based Learning Plan?

10. Materials Massachusetts Department of Public Health www.mass.gov/dph/teensatwork Youth @ Work: Talking Safety Massachusetts www.cdc.gov/niosh/talkingsafety/states/ma NIOSH Safety Checklist Program for Schools www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-101/default.html YouthRules! Factsheets www.youthrules.dol.gov/factsheets.htm

11. Some materials available from the MDPH Teens at Work: Injury Surveillance and Prevention Project

12. Materials Massachusetts Department of Public Health www.mass.gov/dph/teensatwork Youth @ Work: Talking Safety Massachusetts www.cdc.gov/niosh/talkingsafety/states/ma NIOSH Safety Checklist Program for Schools www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2004-101/default.html YouthRules! Factsheets www.youthrules.dol.gov/factsheets.htm

13. Materials Continued NJ Safe Schools Health and Safety Check www.njsafeschools.org/pub.html Inexperienced Workers Fact Sheet www.tdi.state.tx.us/pubs/videoresource/stpinexp.pdf OSHA Restaurant eTool www.osha.gov/SLTC/youth/restaurant

15. Massachusetts Resources Office of the Attorney General www.mass.gov/ago/youthemployment Labor Low Down www.laborlowdown.com Massachusetts Division of Occupational Safety www.mass.gov/dos *click on “youth employment information”

16. National Resources NIOSH Young Worker Health & Safety Website www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/youth US DOL YouthRules! Website www.youthrules.dol.gov OSHA Teen Workers Website www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers National Young Worker Safety Resource Center www.youngworkers.org/nation Workers’ Compensation Board of British Columbia www2.worksafebc.com/topics/youngworker/home.asp

17. Teens at Work Injury Surveillance and Prevention Project www.mass.gov/dph/teensatwork Teens.atWork@state.ma.us (617) 624-5677