Many employers hire teenagers for the summer because young people are often eager to work, ready to learn and have a lot of energy. Teen workers may also not have the same demands for higher pay, full time work or benefits that adult employees have since young people are typically covered by their parent’s health insurance and have plans to return to school in the fall. 
The construction industry is one industry that takes advantage of the help provided by teen workers, especially as summer is one of the busiest times in the construction field. Unfortunately, construction worksites can be dangerous places and young people may be at significant risk. This is especially true if they don’t have a lot of background, training or experience in the construction field and if they are just working short-term in a summer job.
When student accidents occur, young construction workers who are hurt on their summer jobs need to understand their right to compensation. The Herrera Law Firm can help teens or their family members to obtain benefits and damages after a construction site accident.
The Rules for Teen Construction Workers
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has devoted a section of its program “Build a Safe Work Foundation” to teen construction workers. According to OSHA, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 can work on construction sites and in the construction industry but only in limited capacities.
Federal labor laws impose a number of different restrictions on things that teenagers are not allowed to do when working construction. For example, young people who take summer jobs in construction are not allowed to:
- Work in jobs requiring mixing, handling or transporting any explosive compounds.
- Work as an outside helper.
- Drive a motor vehicle for work, although 17-year-olds can occasionally drive automobiles or trucks on an incidental basis.
- Ride on some construction elevators.
- Operate cranes or assist in the operation of cranes.
- Operate power-driven woodworking machines, including portable machines.
- Operate band saws, chain saws or circular saws.
- Operate guillotine shears.
- Operate abrasive cutting discs.
- Operate wood chippers.
- Work in demolition or wrecking.
- Work in roofing or work on a roof.
- Work in excavating
This is not a complete list of things that young people are forbidden from doing, but it provides a basic introduction for employers to the types of jobs that teens cannot perform. Young workers age 16 and 17, in general, are restricted from doing the most hazardous or dangerous work.
When a young person is hired to work in any capacity in the construction field, employers have a legal obligation to ensure that labor laws are being followed and that the teen is not doing forbidden tasks. Employers also have the obligation to train not just teens, but every employee, on workplace safety in order to reduce the risk that someone will get hurt on the job. If a worker is injured on a construction site, a workers’ compensation claim can provide payment of medical bills as well as other benefits.
Contact a San Antonio accident lawyer at The Herrera Law Firm. Call 800-455-1054 or visit http://www.herreralaw.com for a free case consultation.