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Work hazards and workplace safety violations experienced by adolescent construction workers.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Runyan, CW; Dal Santo, J; Schulman, M; Lipscomb, HJ; Harris, TA
Published in: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med
July 2006

OBJECTIVE: To describe the working conditions of adolescents employed in construction in North Carolina, documenting hazards, safety practices, and prohibited activities. DESIGN: A cross-sectional telephone survey. SETTING: North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS: Adolescents (aged <18 years) with work permits for the construction industry in North Carolina during summer 2001. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Types of jobs, work tasks, supervisory conditions, tools, equipment, and processes. RESULTS: A total of 187 survey respondents were in this study. Adolescents were employed in varied construction settings and business types. Nineteen of the 187 permitted workers were younger than 16 years, despite prohibitions against their employment in construction unless working for their parents. The remainder (n = 168) were working legally based on age, but most performed prohibited tasks. In fact, 84% of all the 16- to 17-year-olds had performed at least 1 clearly prohibited task and 47% had performed 3 or more. Although most reported being supervised and working with others, approximately 19% of all respondents reported working where they were not in hearing distance of other workers. Data were collected from teenagers with work permits, suggesting that these adolescents may work for more responsible employers. If violations of child labor laws exist in this group, it is likely that adolescents without permits are exposed to even greater hazards and violations. CONCLUSION: Involvement of teenagers in dangerous and/or prohibited tasks is cause for concern and suggests a pressing need to examine the enforcement of existing laws and the need for additional protection.

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Published In

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

DOI

ISSN

1072-4710

Publication Date

July 2006

Volume

160

Issue

7

Start / End Page

721 / 727

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Workload
  • Pediatrics
  • Occupational Health
  • Occupational Exposure
  • North Carolina
  • Humans
  • Facility Design and Construction
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Adolescent
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Runyan, C. W., Dal Santo, J., Schulman, M., Lipscomb, H. J., & Harris, T. A. (2006). Work hazards and workplace safety violations experienced by adolescent construction workers. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, 160(7), 721–727. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.160.7.721
Runyan, Carol W., Janet Dal Santo, Michael Schulman, Hester J. Lipscomb, and Thomas A. Harris. “Work hazards and workplace safety violations experienced by adolescent construction workers.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 160, no. 7 (July 2006): 721–27. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.160.7.721.
Runyan CW, Dal Santo J, Schulman M, Lipscomb HJ, Harris TA. Work hazards and workplace safety violations experienced by adolescent construction workers. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Jul;160(7):721–7.
Runyan, Carol W., et al. “Work hazards and workplace safety violations experienced by adolescent construction workers.Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, vol. 160, no. 7, July 2006, pp. 721–27. Pubmed, doi:10.1001/archpedi.160.7.721.
Runyan CW, Dal Santo J, Schulman M, Lipscomb HJ, Harris TA. Work hazards and workplace safety violations experienced by adolescent construction workers. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006 Jul;160(7):721–727.

Published In

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

DOI

ISSN

1072-4710

Publication Date

July 2006

Volume

160

Issue

7

Start / End Page

721 / 727

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Workplace
  • Workload
  • Pediatrics
  • Occupational Health
  • Occupational Exposure
  • North Carolina
  • Humans
  • Facility Design and Construction
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Adolescent