On average, 79 young workers are injured every working day in Washington state – or, about three every hour.
"Teens are eager to work and may not question a workplace situation that doesn't seem right, so we must do all we can to create safe workplaces for them," said Michael Silverstein, assistant director of L&I’s Division of Occupational Safety & Health. Gov. Chris Gregoire has declared May “Safe Jobs for Youth Month.”
Silverstein noted L&I is in the third year of a program to raise awareness among teens of the importance of workplace safety. The “Injured Young Worker Speakers Program” brings workers who were severely injured on the job as teenagers to high schools around the state as speakers.
Creating safe workplaces for teens includes providing adequate training, following laws prohibiting teens from operating dangerous equipment and, in general, giving them extra supervision and lots of repetition, particularly when they’re new to the job. (workersxzcompxzkit)
Employers who hire teens must obtain a minor work endorsement on their master business license, as well as a parent authorization form for the job assignments and hours the teen will work.
Podcast: KNOW the New OSHA Recordkeeping Rules — OR Risk Fines and Criminal Penalties. Click Here: http://www.workerscompkit.com/gallagher/podcast/Non_Compliance_with_Recordkeeping_Standards/
