Teen Worker Fatalities Show Importance of Injury Prevention

June 30, 2000
To prevent death and serious injury to teen workers, NIOSH\r\nrecommends that employers know the laws covering child labor and\r\nsafety.

As the summer employment season begins for adolescents, findings from six recent fatality reports by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) illustrate the need for vigilance and action to protect teen workers from job-related injury and death.

The NIOSH fatality reports describe six adolescent worker fatalities in diverse industries, including:

  • A 16-year-old farmworker who died in a cotton-packing machine after being covered by a 3,500-pound load of cotton.
  • A 16-year-old amusement-park attendant who died after being caught and dragged across a concrete floor by an operating amusement ride.
  • A 15-year-old campground laborer who died after striking a trailer hitch on a camper while operating a utility vehicle in morning clean-up duties.
  • Two 17-year-old construction laborers who died in separate incidents when the sides of trenches collapsed on them.
  • A 16-year-old warehouse laborer who died after falling from and being caught under an overturning forklift.

"These tragedies underscore the fact that common occupations can be extremely hazardous for adolescent workers," said NIOSH Director Linda Rosenstock. "This year, we are pleased to participate again In with the U.S. Department of Labor in the annual ''Work Safe This Summer'' campaign to provide our many partners with information and recommendations for protecting young workers from injury and death on the job."

Each year, between 60 and 70 adolescents die from work-related injuries, hundreds more are hospitalized, and tens of thousands require treatment in hospital emergency rooms.

To prevent death and serious injury to teen workers, NIOSH recommends that employers know the laws covering child labor and safety, and that they provide safe employment and adequate supervision.

Available from NIOSH are informational materials designed specifically for teen workers, including a special poster for students under 18 that emphasizes occupational safety and health, and "Are You a Working Teen?," a brochure that provides additional information on the topic.

Visit the NIOSH Web site for more information at www.cdc.gov/niosh.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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