It is not just adults who need to work to support their family and lifestyle. It is legal for teenagers and children to work during school holidays as well. However, workplaces can be unsafe for teenagers because of hazardous conditions. There are child labor laws in place to protect teenagers and children from hazardous working conditions.
However, that has done little to prevent teenagers being exposed to health and safety hazards at workplaces. Did you know that workplace conditions and the kind of work teenagers do can affect their health? Certain substances found in workplaces such as paints, pesticides, gas and cleaning material can affect your health.
Avoiding Hazards
At work, teenagers can be exposed to hazards that lead to illnesses or they may engage in tasks that lead to serious injuries. Some of the hazards that can result in teen injuries include uneven or slippery floors, unprotected machines, working at heights, sharp objects, heavy lifting, and working in confined areas.
In California, most teenagers often get injured at work due to stressful conditions or unsafe equipment. There are different factors in work areas which can create frustration, anxiety, and stress among young workers. These factors include fast-paced workplace, job insecurity, work overload, and fear of workplace violence.
Injury Prevalence
Injuries are the main cause of death among children over 1 years old and adolescents. Injuries are also the main cause of hospital admission among teenagers and children. So what can you do to reduce teen injuries at workplaces? It is worth noting that most teenagers who get injured on the job do not receive enough safety training or supervision.
To prevent teen injuries, youths should be told about workplace safety. In addition, young workers should be told about their legal rights. What are some of the rights of young workers?
- First, right to refuse to work if you think the job is risky to your health or life.
- Second, right to join a workers’ union.
- Third, right to receive protective clothing and equipment.
- Fourth, right to a safe workplace.
- Fifth, right to training about safety and health.
Teen Work Restrictions
Some teenagers often ask if it is fine to do all work. The answer is NO. There are laws in California that protect teenagers from doing risky work. So what happens when you get injured at work? It is not uncommon for workers to get injured at work.
When you are injured at work, you need to understand your rights and how you can be compensated. If you are below the age of 18, you can receive benefits regardless of whether you are working full-time or part-time. Once you are injured on the job, inform your supervisor immediately. Also, make sure you receive urgent medical treatment in case you need it.
Compensation
As far as workers’ compensation is concerned, your employer is supposed to provide medical care. They should also provide payments in case you miss 3 days of wages or more due to injury. In case you have unpaid wages, you can use the following tactics to collect the money owed to you.
- Step one, read your contract to see how much you are supposed to be paid per hour.
- Step two, get documents like timecards to show you have not been paid.
- Step three, check the Federal law to see the minimum wage which is $7.25 per hour.
- Step four, calculate how much your employer owes you.
- Step five, speak with your employer about the unpaid wages.
- Step six, file a complainant with Department of Labor if they fail to pay you.
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