Young workers, defined as those under the age of 24 who are gainfully employed, make up 13% of the U.S. workforce (17.5 million workers in 2010). However, they may be at particular risk of on-the-job injuries:

  • In 2009, 359 young workers were fatally injured on the job
  • On average, 795,000 young workers must be taken to a hospital emergency room every year for an on-the-job (non-fatal) injury
  • More than twice as many young workers are injured (fatally and non-fatally) than older workers
To address this problem, OSHA is reaching out to young workers. It is thought that young workers are at greater risk of injury or illness on the job for these reasons:
  • Inexperience with equipment
  • Eagerness to please employers and do a good job
  • Reluctance to speak up about dangerous working conditions
  • Not knowing that workers have the right to a safe working environment
  • Inadequate understanding of proper safety precautions

In OSHA's blog, David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health writes, "First, you have the right to a safe workplace. For instance, your employer must give you proper safety and health training as part of the training you receive when you start a new job. Ask questions if something seems unsafe or hazardous. Your employer can also establish a mentoring program to "buddy" you with a more experienced worker to learn about ways to ensure your safety and health. You have the right to speak up and ask your boss questions, but if you don't feel comfortable doing that, find a friend, teacher or parent to talk to about your concerns. If you're in a union, talk to your union representative. If you still feel unsafe, call OSHA. You should also learn about the federal and state child labor laws and regulations that apply to you, which include certain limitations on the work that teens under age 18 can do or the equipment they can use."

The OSHA blog also reports on the rights employees have with respect to their working environment. Employers are obligated to provide for employees a workplace free of serious hazards. To this end, employers are obligated to:

  • Tell employees about the hazards and dangers of their jobs
  • Inform employees about the OSHA standards that apply to their workplace in plain language that they can understand
  • Provide job safety training regarding workplace hazards and any required personal protective equipment (PPE), also known as safety gear
  • Tell employees who to talk to if they ever have a health or safety question about the job
  • Inform employees what to do and who to talk to if they get hurt on the job

In particular, young workers may not fully understand what employers are supposed to provide in terms of a safe workplace, and may incorrectly assume that their employers are doing everything "by the book," when, in fact, safety shortfalls may be present.

Young employees, in particular, should know about OSHA and that it provides all workers, including young workers, with the right to:

  • Receive information and training about hazards, methods to avoid harm, and OSHA standards (in clear language they can understand)
  • Exercise their workplace safety rights without fear of employer retaliation or discrimination
  • Ask OSHA to inspect your workplace.

Young workers may be intimidated by their employers, so companies should work hard toward creating a safety-biased culture where all employees, including the newest, greenest, and youngest, can learn about safety requirements and feel comfortable in asking that proper safety measures be taken on the job.

Any workers who feel that they are exposed to unsafe working conditions or are asked to work in an environment where safety procedures are not being appropriately followed have certain rights. Failure to claim these rights may result in injury or even death.

  • Workers have the right to report unsafe conditions to supervisors (or in the case of young workers to parents, teachers, or other adults) without fear of retaliation or discrimination
  • Workers have the right to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) on the job
  • Workers have the right to demand that proper safety measures be taken
  • Workers have the right to refuse if employers or supervisors ask them shortcut safety procedures, bypass safety features on equipment, or otherwise cut corners in terms of adequate safety procedures
  • Workers have the right to speak up to their supervisors and employers if they have concerns about safety
  • Workers have the right to ask questions about safety procedures and to have safety measures explained to them clearly in a way that they understand

References:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/employers.html

http://social.dol.gov/blog/a-letter-to-young-workers-your-right-to-a-safe-and-healthful-workplace/

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/youth/

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5915a2.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/blog/nsb050410_youth.html

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