Effect of child Labor violations on reported injuries among working youth: Results of school based surveys

Background: Studies on the effect of child labor violations and sociodemographic variables on injuries are lacking. Such research is important for designing safety interventions and policies for enforcing child labor regulations. Methods: Data were obtained from surveys in 32 high schools in North Carolina and South Carolina in fall 2005. A total of 1658 employed youth participated. Unadjusted odds ratios and chi-square analyses were calculated to study the relationship between sociodemographic variables, work hour violations , Hazardous Orders violations and reported injuries. Results: A total of 77 injuries were reported. Males, teens from rural counties, those who worked in family businesses, those who worked longer than three months were more likely to be injured. Teens who worked after 11 pm on a school night, those who worked more than 40 hours during a non- school week, those who worked more than 18 hours during a school week were 1.97 [95% CI: 1.11-3.49], 4.43 [95% CI: 2.02- 9.72], and 2.48 [95% CI:1.02-6.04] times more likely to be injured than other teens, respectively. Teens who used a power saw, other power tools, a forklift, a power nail gun or stapler, and worked in demolition were 5.44 [95% CI: 3.07- 9.66],2.88 [95% CI: 1.72- 4.82],3.5 [95% CI: 1.64- 7.45],3.32 [95% CI: 1.83- 5.99],and 7.41 [95% CI: 2.31-23.76] times more likely to be injured than other teens, respectively. Conclusions: Findings have implications for policies aimed at increasing compliance with child labor regulations and targeting safety interventions at populations at high risk of injuries. ________________________________________