I allowed my son as a teenager to work for this company,
it caused me concern when I found out that the store manager allowed
this minor to use dangerous equipment prohibited by OSHA regulations.
A workplace may be fully compliant with OSHA regulations and yet may
place young workers at risk of injury or illness if applicable federal
and state child labor laws are not followed. One study estimated that
more than three-fourths of employers of young workers were unfamiliar
with child labor laws. Lack of awareness of occupational safety and
health laws by young workers, adults, and employers has been identified
as a major obstacle to preventing injury and illness in young workers.
[10] The primary Federal law governing the employment of workers under age 18 is the
Fair Labor Standards Act
(FLSA) of 1938, which is enforced by the Wage and Hour Division of the
Employment Standards Administration within DOL. Child labor provisions
of the FLSA are designed to protect the educational opportunities of
minors and prohibit their employment in jobs that pose safety or health
risks.