NYS Young Worker Safety Group Announces Initiatives for Teen Worker Safety Month

ALBANY, NY (06/11/2008)(readMedia)-- The New York State Young Worker Safety and Health Project, a consortium of government agencies, non-profit organizations, unions and worker advocacy groups, today announced a series of initiatives and programs to promote workplace safety and education for young workers.

The participating agencies acted following Governor David A. Paterson’s executive resolution proclaiming June “Teen Worker Safety Month”.

As thousands of teens enter the workplace to begin new summer jobs, New York State is launching Teen Worker Safety Month to raise awareness among teens, their parents, employers and educators on how to better protect young workers from on-the-job injuries and illnesses.

The New York State Young Worker Safety and Health Project includes the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), the New York State Department of Labor, the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Education Department, the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board, the U.S. Department of Labor/Occupational Safety and Health Administration Region II, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the Teachers’ Federal Credit Union of Suffolk County, and the Occupational and Environmental Health Clinic of Eastern NY (OEHC).

Every year, approximately 200,000 teenagers in the United States are injured on the job, and about 70 teens are killed at work. Every six minutes, a teenager is injured seriously enough on the job to require treatment in a hospital emergency room. Teen workers must be better educated about the hazards they may face on the job, and they need to know how to best address those situations to ensure their safety and well-being.

“Teens are injured on the job at a rate nearly double that of the rest of the workforce. The programs being announced by the state agencies today are an important first step to protect young workers – at a time when tens of thousands of teens are starting summer jobs,” said NYCOSH Executive Director Joel Shufro, who was joined at today’s press conference by Bethanie Lethbridge, 17, a junior at T-S-T BOCES in Ithaca, the winner of this year’s annual YouthSafe Poster Contest. The contest is held to help educate New York States youths about their rights on the job. It is a joint initiative sponsored by NYCOSH and NYSUT.

Acting on Governor Paterson’s proclamation for Teen Worker Safety Month, state agencies will take steps to inform employers about the laws and regulations governing young workers and to provide information to teen workers about their rights in the workplace, how to work safely, and how to best speak up to an employer to ensure their rights are not violated.

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

State Labor Commissioner M. Patricia Smith said, “With summertime in full swing, it is highly important to raise awareness of teen worker safety, which is why we designate June as Teen Worker Safety Month. Businesses that employ youth across New York have a responsibility to make sure they are working in a safe environment and know their rights under State Labor Law. By working to protect youth in the workplace, we also work to protect the future of New York’s economy.”

Child labor laws were among the most discussed topics at the 88 labor law seminars conducted by the Labor Department for employers across the state in 2007. Last year, the Labor Department investigated 468 establishments, employing some 2,892 children under 18, for compliance with laws governing the employment of minors. These investigations found 281 establishments in violation of State Labor Law, with respect to some 1,063 minors. In addition, new civil penalty assessments for child labor violations totaled $197,150 against 116 employers, an increase of 65% in dollars and 23% in number of employers over the previous year.

Under State Labor Law, youth ages 16 and 17 can operate kiddie rides or act as an attendant after they have been trained by their employer. The Labor Department plans to visit carnivals and fairs across the state this year to not only educate ride operators on amusement ride safety, but also ensure that child labor laws are followed.

The Labor Department is also working in collaboration with the State Workers' Compensation Board (WCB) on a joint pilot program in Buffalo involving youth. Under this program, the WCB refers targeted cases involving minors who have been injured on the job to the Labor Department for investigation of possible child labor law infractions. To maximize the effectiveness of this program, both agencies have identified specific criteria for cases to be referred to DOL. This joint initiative will help the WCB thoroughly review the more serious cases involving minors to see if an increased reimbursement is appropriate because of child labor violations. It will also help the Labor Department better identify child labor violations in circumstances where the minor has been injured. DOL and WCB plan to roll this program out in New York City and Long Island in the coming months, and eventually implement it statewide.

NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

“The Department of Health is committed to reducing the injury and illness rate for youth workers in New York State and is proud to be part of this interagency collaboration,” said Commissioner Richard Daines. “The Health Department has begun to work with the Cornell Center of Excellence for Youth Development and representatives of the construction trades and food service industries to develop programs to reduce young worker injury and illness rates. The trade and food service industries are the most common source of employment for the almost 464,000 youth workers in New York State.”

NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

“The New York State Education Department is committed to creating safety and health awareness in the workplace through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. CTE teachers provide relevant safety training in daily instruction and modeling good practice while striving to meet established safety standards in all CTE areas,” said Jean C. Stevens, Associate Commissioner, Office of Instructional Support and Development. “Through these efforts, students apply this knowledge to home and workplace practices.”

NEW YORK STATE WORKERS’ COMPENSATION BOARD

“I am pleased that as part of Teen Workplace Safety Month, the Board will be partnering with the Department of Labor and expanding a referral project, which promotes safety for our young workers,” said Zachary Weiss, Chair of the New York State Workers' Compensation Board. “The Board will continue to do everything in its power to promote workplace safety for our teens and all New Yorkers.”

NEW YORK STATE AFL-CIO

“There is nothing as important as the safety, health and well-being of our children, particularly in the workplace. As a progressive, enlightened society it is incumbent upon all of us to protect and enhance the well-being of those most vulnerable. The New York State AFL-CIO applauds Governor Paterson for recognizing the necessity of promoting workplace safety and educating young workers on their rights,” said Denis Hughes, President, New York State AFL-CIO.

NEW YORK STATE UNITED TEACHERS (NYSUT)

"NYSUT is proud to partner in this important initiative. We are committed to helping ensure that students are healthy and safe, whether in school or at work," said NYSUT President Richard C. Iannuzzi. “We look forward to working together to achieve the project's goals."

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR’S OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA) REGION II and SKILLS/USA

As part of an Alliance, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Region II and the New York Association of SKILLSUSA will raise youth awareness of occupational health and safety through training and education programs. Both organizations will also communicate to employers and employees about the recognition and prevention of workplace hazards. The Alliance is part of OSHA’s Young Worker Initiative, which provides safety resources to teenagers, parents, educators and employers.

OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH CENTER OF EASTERN NY (OEHC)

“Teens entering the workforce need to be armed with the knowledge of their legal protections on the job, including the right to work in a safe environment. Education about workplace safety and health is key to the prevention of work-related injury and illness for all workers, especially young workers,” said Dr. Jean McMahon, Medical Director of the Albany Occupational and Environmental Health Center of Eastern New York. OEHC is engaged in an educational campaign with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to get the word out to youth, employers, parents, educators and others, about the dangers faced by teen workers.

TEACHERS’ FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

The Teachers’ Federal Credit Union has agreed to distribute the NYCOSH “business cards,” which contain telephone numbers of agencies that will help teen workers with job-related issues, including on-the-job safety concerns; they will also make teen workplace safety materials available in all branch locations.

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