keeping teen workers safe focus on food service. topics covered teen injury rates. common injury...

Keeping Teen Workers SafeKeeping Teen Workers Safe

Focus on Food ServiceFocus on Food Service

Topics Covered

• Teen injury rates.

• Common injury types for teens who work in food service.

• Injury prevention tips.

• Rules, policies, and links.

Teen Worker Injuries

• Every year more than 70,000 teen workers are hurt on the job in the United States.

A Serious Problem

Teen Worker Injuries - USA

• The teen injury rate is more than two times higher than the adult rate.

• About 70 teens each year die from work injuries in this country.

The Problem Is Real

• In Washington State, an average of 10 working teens every day seek medical treatment at a hospital or clinic because of a work injury.

• One teen worker died in 2004, 3 died in 2003.

• Seven died between 1992 and 2002.

The Problem Is Real

• One teen worker was burned over 70% of his body when a chicken fryer blew up.

• One teen worker was killed after falling more than 30 feet to his death while washing windows.

• In both instances the teens were doing their best to do their jobs.

Food Service Jobs–Washington State

• Many teens start a first job in food service.

• More than 800 teens suffer injuries requiring medical treatment in Washington each year while employed in the food service industry.

Food Service Jobs

• The top four injury types in food service are:– Cuts,

– Burns,

– Sprains & strains,

– Slips, trips and falls.

How Can Cuts Be Prevented?

• To prevent knife cuts:

– Be careful when cleaning knives or blades.

– Always look at what youare cutting.

– Place a damp cloth under cutting boards to prevent slipping.

How Can Cuts Be Prevented?

• To prevent knife cuts:

- Cut properly

– Carry knives with point down and backwards

– Wear gloves that protectyour hands from cuts.

incorrect correct

How Can Cuts Be Prevented?

• To prevent machine cuts:

– Be sure moving parts are covered by guards.

– Turn off power and unplug to clean.

– Keep your hands, face and hair away from moving parts.

Meat Slicer

Teens under the age of 16 are prohibited from operating food slicers.

How Can Cuts Be Prevented?

• Prevent machine cuts by:

– Not wearing clothing or jewelry that could get caught in machines.

– Not using equipment that you have not been trained to use.

How Can Cuts Be Prevented?

• To prevent can lid cuts:

– Use the provided can opener.

– Use gloves or dishcloth to dispose of lid.

– Throw it way where it won’t injure someone else.

How Can Cuts Be Prevented?

• To prevent cuts from broken glass:– Use a broom and dustpan

to clean it up.

– Wear gloves if you must use your hands.

– Don’t use hands and feet to smash down garbage.

How Can Burns Be Prevented?

• To prevent burns from grills and fryers:

– Don’t brush up against grills or fryers.

– Stay clear of grills and fryers unless you are working there.

– Wear a protective apron.

– Use automatic food lowering devices.

How Can Burns Be Prevented?

• To prevent burns from grills and fryers:

– Cover hot oil and grease when not in use.

– Let ice crystals melt away before frying frozen foods.

– Follow company rules for handling hot oil wastes.

How Can Burns Be Prevented?

• To prevent other oil and grease burns:

– Watch out for spatters and spills.

– Use protective apron and mitt.

– Clean up spills as soon as they happen.

Protective Mitt

How Can Burns Be Prevented?

• To prevent burns from open flames:

– Keep hair and clothes away from flames.

– Keep flammable materials away from flames.

How Can Burns Be Prevented?

• To prevent steam burns:

– Watch out for steam cloud when you open dishwasher, steam table or other places where steam occurs.

– Wear protective gloves whenever you open something filled with steam.

How Can Burns Be Prevented?

• To prevent burns from hot food and drinks:

– Understand how to operate equipment that produces hot food and drinks.

– Make sure take-out lids are

securely attached.

– When carrying food, watch out for other people.

How Can Strains Be Prevented?

• Ask for help with heavy loads.

• Ask for training in safe lifting methods.

• Push loads rather than pull them.

• Don’t lift and then twist.

• Don’t lean out drive-through windows.

How Can Slips, Trips & Falls be Prevented?

• To prevent trips, slips and falls:

– Make sure your path is clear, clean and dry before carrying a load.

– Move boxes and carts out of the way.

– Watch for mop and broom handles.

– Use non-slip floor pads.

How Can Slips, Trips & Falls Be Prevented?

• To Prevent trips, slips and falls:

– Wear shoes with soles that grip.

– Clean up spills as soon as they happen.

– When you carry something, put a lid on it. Use a cart or hand truck if it’s heavy.

– Be aware of your workingarea.

Slip-resistant shoes

How Can Slips, Trips & Falls Be Prevented?

• Ladders:

– Use ladders correctly.

– Don’t lean out away from the ladder. Move it closer.

– Have a helper secure the area.

– Put the ladder back where it belongs when finished.

– Don’t leave a ladder unattended.

Remember

• Your employer is required by law to provide a safe work place for you.

• All workers have this right.

• Your responsibility is to follow the safety rules.

Remember

• No one expects that you will know everything about your job, including your boss, even if you have worked in a similar place or have been on the job for awhile.

• If you don’t know how

to do something - ASK!

What Can Teen Workers Do?

• If you see dangerous situations, tell someone!

• All workers have the right by law to be safe.

• Report unsafe situations!

Rules, Policies & Links

The Department of Labor and Industries hosts a Website about Teen Worker Safety. The site has information about rules and policies regarding hiring teens, wage and hour issues, prohibited activities, necessary posters and forms, and much more.

L&I Teen Workers

Labor and Industries also conducts workshops for restaurant managers and supervisors to teach them how to safely employ teen workers.

L&I Teen Restaurant Safety

Federal OSHA also has a teen worker website:

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/

Thank you for taking the time to learn about safety and health and how to prevent injuries and illnesses.