Each year, millions of teenagers get their first job. But whether it’s working a fast food restaurant or helping out at a construction site, there are workplace dangers at just about every workplace.
Unfortunately, many young workers aren’t aware of their rights under the law — especially their right to work in a safe workplace. But a new government-sponsored website hopes to change all that.
Young Workers’ Webpage
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has launched a new Young Workers’ Webpage that advises workers between the ages of 15 and 24 who are perhaps starting their first-ever job of their rights and their employers’ responsibilities.
The site — which features bright, primary colors and simple, easy-to-understand language — includes information about potential workplace hazards, as well as first-person testimonials from teen workers who suffered on the job injuries.
Right to a Safe Workplace
Many young workers may still be in high school, so they may not be that aware of their rights in the workplace.
But the new website provides young workers information they may not have already known about their rights at work, including that they have a right to:
- Work in a safe place
- Receive safety and health training in a language that they understand
- Ask questions if they don’t understand instructions or if something seems unsafe
- Use and be trained on safety gear, such a hard hats, goggles and ear plugs
- Exercise their workplace safety rights without retaliation or discrimination
The website also lets new workers know that they have a right to file a confidential complaint with OSHA if they believe there is a serious workplace hazard or if their employer is not following OSHA standards.
Employer Responsibilities
It can be hard for young people to know what they can expect from their employers because they may have nothing to compare it to if it is their first job.
But according to the website, employers are required to provide a workplace free from serious recognized hazards. They also must follow all OSHA safety and health standards, as well as provide training about potential workplace hazards.
Employers also must provide any required safety gear and they must pay for most types of safety gear. They also need to tell young, new workers where they can go to get answers to any safety or health questions they might have.
Plus, employers need to educate young people on what to do if they get hurt on the job, according to the website.