Labor Laws and Youth Safety on the Job

Students often ask "how old do we have to be to get a work permit?" "Or why do we even need a work permit?" Work permits help school districts protect teen workers by monitoring the hours they work and the types of job duties they perform. Work permits also ensure employers are carrying worker's compensation insurance which will protect a student in the case of an accident.

Working teens often have questions about whether an employer is treating them fairly or not. Knowing the basics about labor laws can help protect you and other teen workers around you.

Did You Know?
A teen American worker is injured on the job every two minutes, and one teen dies from a workplace injury every five days.

For the assignment read through the Young Workers website to answer the below questions. Copy and paste the questions into a MS Word document to complete.

1. Of the many workplace hazards list three hazards you may need to watch out for in your workplace.

2. List two rights you have on the job:

3. What are two types of work someone under 18 can't do? List two someone 14 or 15 can't do.

4. Do you have safety responsibilities on the job? Yes or No

5. What is the first step to take if you have a problem at work?

6. What are three worker's compensation benefits?

7. Why is it important for your employer to carry worker's compensation insurance?

Go to the National Child Labor Organizations List of the 2009 5 Worst Teen Jobs to answer the following questions:

8. List the five worst teen jobs according to NCL:

9.-10. Write about two of the jobs and the reasons they are not good for teens: