We studied fatal injuries to teenage construction workers from 1984-1999 using OSHA investigation data. Fatalities in SIC 1500-1799 were selected for analysis. For the 15-year period there were 9,018 fatal injuries investigated, with 343 in workers age 19 or lower. Compared to adult construction workers, teenagers were more likely to sustain fatal injury from electric shock (OR=1.8,p<.05) and were more likely to be employed at small firms with fewer than 11 employees (OR=1.4, p<.05) and non-union firms (OR=4.5,p<.05).
The findings of this study suggest that workplace safety training programs for teenage construction workers should be targeted at small, non-union firms. Whether additional child labor regulations are warranted for construction will be discussed. This study is limited by the lack of a suitable employment denominator for teenagers for the entire 15-year period.
Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this session attendees will learn and delineate recent findings concerning child labor laws as they apply to teenage construction workers
Keywords: Adolescents, Occupational Injury and Death
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.