PRESS RELEASE
The Indiana Department of Labor Launches Teen Summer Job Safety Information Campaign
Indianapolis, IN April 18, 2008 - The Indiana Department of Labor has joined United States Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao's call to launch the Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign.
Secretary Chao announced the start of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign during a TODAY Show segment that aired on April 21, 2008 in New York City. A national kick-off event, supported by several OSHA Alliance Program participants including SkillsUSA, National Association of Home Builders and Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc. was held in Rockefeller Plaza following the TODAY Show segment.
Nationally, each year, approximately 70 adolescents die from work-related injuries. Hundreds more are hospitalized and thousands require treatment in hospital emergency rooms. Inspections conducted by the Indiana Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (IOSHA) indicate that they have been made aware of or investigated at least one teen work-related fatality each year (2004-2007). With more than 90,000 teens working in Indiana, a strong message of teen worker safety is warranted.
This year's campaign focuses on construction, with an emphasis on residential construction as well as other jobs that teens typically perform. In Indiana, the Indiana Department of Labor will be releasing five press releases (in English and Spanish) through the summer touching on various teen worker safety subjects.
The first press release, due to be sent out May 1, 2008 will deal with teenagers understanding how to assess if a job and work environments are safe. Due to the inherent dangers, there are jobs, tasks and work environments prohibited from using teen labor, yet many employers and teens themselves do not know this or ignore teen worker rules. Potential Hazards in the Workplace Part 1: Making Sure that You are Safe on the Job is the first press release scheduled.
Information will be immediately available in OSHA websites in the May 1st weblink, but there will still be press releases sent out as a constant reminder of the many issues that confront teens at work. Subsequent press releases will include the following topics:
- Teen Wage and Hour Issues/Child Labor Laws (May 14);
- Potential Hazards in the Workplace Part 2: Construction, Landscaping, and General Outdoor Safety, (June 1);
- Potential Hazards in the Workplace Part 3: Factory, Restaurants, and Retail Safety, (June 14) and
- Teen Workers: What Employers Need to Know When Hiring Teens (July 1).
The Indiana Department of Labor will be working with several construction companies and associations to create teen job safety training. Further details are forthcoming.
For more information or if you have questions, please contact Sean M. Keefer at (317) 232-2683.
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