Labor Occupational Health Program University of California, Berkeley 2001

"Having young people at work gives us a chance to remind everybody that safety is important. We have really focused on our
safety program. We haven't had any serious injuries this year, and we're saving over 25% in workers' comp costs!."
—Michele Clark-Clough The Youth Employment Partnership 

"Most teens are enthusiastic and eager to learn. They make my work a lot of fun. But teens can be injured on the job when they don't receive adequate safety training and supervision."
—Scott Silver Operations Manager, Oakland Zoo 

 6 Steps to Safer Teen Jobs 

Each year 70 teens die from work injuries in the U.S. About 100,000 are injured seriously enough to require emergency room treatment. Keep safety in mind! There's a lot that employers can do to prevent injuries to their teen workers. The measures you take to keep teens safe will help protect all employees. Begin by following these steps:

1. Know the Law

• Understand the California child labor laws. These prohibit teens from working late and/or long hours, and doing especially
  dangerous work.
• Understand Cal/OSHA's workplace safety and health regulations. These are designed to protect all employees, including teens,
  from injury.

2. Check Your Compliance

• Make sure teen employees are not assigned work schedules that violate the law, or given prohibited job tasks like operating heavy
  equipment or using power tools.
• See later sections of this factsheet for more information.

3. Make Sure Teens Have Work Permits

• Workers under 18 must apply for work permits at their school or school district office before beginning a new job. Work
  permits are not required for those who have graduated from high school or passed the high school equivalency exam.

4. Stress Safety to Frontline Supervisors

• Make sure frontline supervisors who give teens their job assignments know the law.
• Encourage supervisors to set a good example. They are in the best position to influence teens' attitudes and work habits.

5. Set Up a Safety and Health Program

• Make sure all jobs and work areas are free of hazards. The law requires you to provide a safe and healthy workplace.
• Under Cal/OSHA regulations, every workplace must have an Injury and Illness Prevention Program. Involve every worker
  in the program, including teens.
• Find out if there are simple low-cost safety measures that can prevent injuries.

6. Train Teens To Put Safety First

• Give teens clear instructions for each task, especially unfamiliar ones. Provide hands-on training on the correct use of
  equipment. Show them what safety precautions to take. Point out possible hazards. Give them a chance to ask questions.
• Observe teens while they work, and correct any mistakes. Retrain them regularly.
• Encourage teens to let you know if there's a problem or directions are unclear. Make sure teens feel free to speak up.
• Prepare teens for emergencies—accidents,fires, violent situations, etc. Show them escape routes and explain where to go if
  they need emergency medical treatment.
• Supply personal protective equipment when needed—goggles, safety shoes, masks, hardhats, gloves, etc. Be sure that teens know
  how to use it.

What Work Does the Law Prohibit Teens From Doing?

The lists below give the major restrictions. There are other restrictions depending on the industry and the worker's age. Also, there are limited exemptions for youth under 18 who are in apprenticeship and student-learner programs.

In California no worker under 18 may:

• Drive a motor vehicle on public streets as part of the job, or work as an outside helper on a motor vehicle
• Operate power-driven machinery:
  • meat slicers
  • bakery machines (including dough mixers)
  • box crushers/compactors
  • woodworking machines
  • metalworking machines
  • punches
  • hoists
  • forklifts
  • circular saws
  • band saws
  • guillotine shears

• Handle, serve, or sell alcoholic beverages
• Be exposed to radioactive substances or ionizing radiation
• Work in:

• wrecking or demolition
• excavation
• logging or sawmills
• roofing
• manufacturing brick or tile
• manufacturing or storage of explosives
• mining
• meat packing or processing

• Mix, load, or apply Category I pesticides

Also, no one under 16 may:

• Work in building or construction
• Work in manufacturing or food processing
• Do any baking or cooking on the job (except cooking at a serving counter)
• Do dry cleaning or work in a commercial laundry
• Work on a ladder or scaffold
• Work in a freezer or meat cooler
• Load or unload trucks, railroad cars, or conveyors
• Work in a warehouse (except as a clerical)
• Dispense gas or oil
• Clean, wash, or polish cars
  

What Hours May Teens Work in California?

This table shows the hours teens may work inCalifornia. (Some school districts may have more restrictive regulations. Also, there are some
exceptions for teens in Work Experience Education programs.)

Work Hours for Teens

Ages 14 and 15 

Work Hours 

• 7 am–7 pm, from Labor Day–June 1
• Not during school hours
• 7 am–9 pm, from June 1–Labor Day

Maximum Hours When School Is in Session

18 hours a week, but not over:

• 3 hours a day on school days
• 8 hours a day Saturday–Sunday and holidays
  

Maximum Hours When School Is not in Session

• 40 hours a week
• 8 hours a day

Ages 16 and 17

Work Hours 

• 5 am–10 pm when there is school the next day
• 5 am–12:30 am when there is no school the next day

Maximum Hours When School Is in Session

48 hours a week, but not over:

• 4 hours a day Monday–Thursday
• 8 hours a day Friday–Sunday and holidays

Maximum Hours When School Is not in Session

• 48 hours a week
• 8 hours a day

Ideas From Employers

• A California zoo assigns each new teen worker a "buddy" or mentor. Sometimes this is a more experienced teen worker. This mentor
  answers questions, helps give hands-on training, and offers safety tips.
• A retail clothing chain with many young employees uses role playing regularly at  monthly safety meetings. Workers enact specific health and safety problems that have come up, and develop solutions.
• At one chain of convenience stores, young employees are issued different colored smocks, based on age. This lets the supervisors know at a glance who is not allowed to operate the electric meat slicer.
• An employer in the fast-food industry, with 8,000 young workers in five states, developed a computerized tracking system to ensure that
  teens aren't scheduled for too many hours during school weeks.
• One major grocery store chain includes teen workers on the safety committee, which conducts safety inspections, reviews employee injuries, and make suggestions for prevention.

Compliance Checklist for Employers

This checklist can help you determine whether you are in compliance with the most important California child labor laws and Cal/OSHA regulations. The list is not complete, and is not intended as legal advice. Other sections of this fact sheet give more information on the issues covered here.

Labor Laws

• Employees under 18 do not work too many hours, too late, or too early.
• Employees under 18 do not do any hazardous work prohibited by child labor laws.
• Employees under 16 do not do any of the tasks prohibited for their age group.
• All employees under 18 have valid work permits which were issued by their school district office (or other agencies designated
  by the district). (Not required for those who have graduated from high school or passed the equivalency exam.)
• All employees (including teens) are covered by workers’ compensation.
  Employees (including teens) receive the minimum wage—$6.25 an hour, increasing to $6.75 in January 2002. In some cases, employers can pay less than minimum wage during the first 160 hours of work, if the worker has no previous similar experience. For more information, call (415) 557-7878.

Cal/OSHA Regulations

• There is an Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) for your workplace. (If you have more than 10 employees, you must have a written program.)
• The program includes:

• Information and training for all workers about possible hazards, given in a language they understand.
• A system for workers to report hazards without fear of being fired or punished. 
• A system for inspecting the workplace and correcting hazards promptly.
• Training for supervisors.

• You meet the key requirements of the Hazard Communication standard:

• All containers of toxic materials are labeled with the chemical name, hazard warnings, and name and address of the manufacturer.
• Employees are trained about chemicals they work with, potential hazards, and protective measures.
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) for all chemicals in your worksite are easily accessible to workers.

• You provide all safety and protective equipment that employees need.
  

NOTE: Cal/OSHA also has many specific regulations covering electrical hazards, fire safety, fall protection, machinery, etc. See Resources for Information and Help in this factsheet.

Resources for Information and Help 

About health and safety:

• Cal/OSHA Consultation Service, California Dept. of Industrial Relations. Provides free, confidential advice and assistance to employers.
  (800) 963-9424
• Cal/OSHA Web Site (Division of Occupational Safety and Health, California Dept. of Industrial Relations). Has publications and searchable
  Cal/OSHA standards. www.dir.ca.gov
• California Chamber of Commerce. Haspublications to assist with compliance. (916) 444-6670 - http://products.calchamber.com
• Labor Occupational Health Program (LOHP),U.C. Berkeley. Has a Young Workers Project and a library open to the public.
  (510) 642-5507 - www.lohp.org
• Labor Occupational Safety and HealthProgram (LOSH), UCLA. Has a Young Workers Project. (310) 794-5964
  www.sppsr.ucla.edu/res_ctrs/iir/losh
• Occupational Health Branch, California Dept. of Health Services. Offers publications and consultation on specific hazards.
  (510) 622-4332 (Lead Safety Hotline). (510) 622-4317 (Other hazards: English). (510) 622-4318 (Other hazards: Spanish)www.ohb.org

About wages or child labor laws:

• Division of Labor Standards Enforcement,California Dept. of Industrial Relations. Enforces state labor laws. (415) 557-7878
  www.dir.ca.gov
• Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Dept. of Labor.Enforces federal labor laws. (415) 744-5590 - www.dol.gov

About workers’ compensation:

• Division of Workers’ Compensation,California Dept. of Industrial Relations. Has Information and Assistance offices statewide.                  (800) 736-7401 - www.dir.ca.gov
  

How Can I Hire Teens From a Training Program?

• Work Experience Education, School-to-Career,or Academy Programs. Call your high school or school district office. Ask for the Work Experience Educator or school-to-career coordinator.
• Regional Occupational Programs or Centers(ROP/C). Call your high school or school district office and ask about trade-specific programs in
  your area.
• Apprenticeship Programs. Call the Division of Apprenticeship Standards Headquarters at (415) 703-4920 to find out about apprentice-ship
  programs for specific trades in your area.
• Local job training and placement programs.Call your local Workforce Investment Board (WIB). Ask about community training programs.