an introduction to health and safety for young workers

An Introduction to Health An Introduction to Health and Safety for Young and Safety for Young

WorkersWorkersAndrew Burgie, M.S.Andrew Burgie, M.S.

Center for Occupational and Center for Occupational and Environmental Health at Hunter Environmental Health at Hunter

CollegeCollege

OverviewOverview

What is an Industrial Hygienist?What is an Industrial Hygienist? What is OSHA?What is OSHA? Why is the Young Worker Special?Why is the Young Worker Special? Applying OSHA: Office Health & Applying OSHA: Office Health &

SafetySafety Questions?Questions?

What is an What is an Industrial Industrial HygienistHygienist?? A highly qualified, A highly qualified, sciencescience-oriented -oriented professional professional who who anticipates, recognizes, anticipates, recognizes, evaluates, evaluates, andand controls hazardous controls hazardous exposuresexposures

These exposures can occur in These exposures can occur in work work andand home-related environmentshome-related environments

Industrial hygiene is also an Industrial hygiene is also an artart that that involves involves judgment, creativity, judgment, creativity, andand human interactionhuman interaction

Introduction to OSHAIntroduction to OSHA

OOccupational ccupational SSafety and afety and HHealth ealth AAdministrationdministration

Created in 1970 by Occupational Safety and Created in 1970 by Occupational Safety and Health Act to ensure “safe and healthy Health Act to ensure “safe and healthy

work work environment”environment”

Intended to help employers and employees Intended to help employers and employees reducereduce job-related injuries, illnesses, and job-related injuries, illnesses, and deathsdeaths

Without OSHAWithout OSHAPrior to 1970Prior to 1970

More than 14,000 workerMore than 14,000 worker deaths annually deaths annually

2.5 million workers 2.5 million workers disableddisabled by work-related injuries by work-related injuries

Estimated 300,000 casesEstimated 300,000 cases of work-related illness of work-related illness

Work-related fatalities cut Work-related fatalities cut byby more than 60 percent more than 60 percent

Overall injury and illness Overall injury and illness raterate down by 42 percent down by 42 percent

OSHA SuccessOSHA SuccessSince 1970Since 1970

OSHA’s Inspection OSHA’s Inspection PrioritiesPriorities

Imminent danger Imminent danger (prevents accident occurring from “likely (prevents accident occurring from “likely danger”)danger”)

Fatalities and catastrophes Fatalities and catastrophes (controls damage after (controls damage after accident )accident )

Complaints and referrals Complaints and referrals (addresses potential “near-(addresses potential “near-misses”)misses”)

Programmed inspections Programmed inspections (ensures proactive compliance)(ensures proactive compliance)

Follow-up inspectionsFollow-up inspections (ensures safeguard previously omitted (ensures safeguard previously omitted in place)in place)

Special Considerations Special Considerations Regarding the Young WorkerRegarding the Young Worker

oror

What Makes What Makes the Young the Young

Worker Worker Different?Different?

Young Workers Get Hurt Young Workers Get Hurt When:When:

They don’t have appropriate They don’t have appropriate supervisionsupervision

They perform jobs for which they are They perform jobs for which they are not not trainedtrained – sometimes without being asked – sometimes without being asked

They work with They work with dangerousdangerous tools or equipment tools or equipment

They are required to perform tasks that They are required to perform tasks that violate violate youth employment lawsyouth employment laws

Some NYS Teen Prohibited JobsSome NYS Teen Prohibited Jobs

What jobs are workers What jobs are workers under 18 not permittedunder 18 not permitted to do? to do?

Work in wrecking, demolition, excavation, roofingWork in wrecking, demolition, excavation, roofing

Work in meat-packing or slaughteringWork in meat-packing or slaughtering

Operate powered equipment (saws, slicers, Operate powered equipment (saws, slicers, compactors)compactors)

Work where there is exposure to radiationWork where there is exposure to radiation

Work in mining, logging, or a sawmillWork in mining, logging, or a sawmillwww.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/stprhboc.shtmstprhboc.shtm


What jobs are workers What jobs are workers under 18 not permittedunder 18 not permitted to do?to do?

Drive a motor vehicleDrive a motor vehicle

Work operating a freight or passenger elevatorWork operating a freight or passenger elevator

Work where explosives are manufactured or Work where explosives are manufactured or usedused

Operate a forkliftOperate a forkliftwww.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/laborstandards/workprot/stprhboc.shtmstprhboc.shtm


What jobs are What jobs are teen workers (14 or 15) teen workers (14 or 15) not permittednot permitted to do? to do?

Operate power-driven equipment Operate power-driven equipment except non-hazardous equipment except non-hazardous equipment (office equipment)(office equipment)

Any occupation in or in connection with Any occupation in or in connection with a factory (except delivery/clerical work)a factory (except delivery/clerical work)


What jobs are What jobs are teen workers (14 or 15) teen workers (14 or 15) not permittednot permitted to do? to do?

Painting or exterior cleaning in Painting or exterior cleaning in connection with building connection with building maintenance/structuremaintenance/structure

Work in Department of Mental Health Work in Department of Mental Health institutionsinstitutions

General NYS Teen Prohibited General NYS Teen Prohibited HoursHours

Ages Ages 14-1514-15**

During school hoursDuring school hours

>3 hours school day>3 hours school day

>8 hours weekend>8 hours weekend

>18 hours/week>18 hours/week

>6 days/week>6 days/week

Ages Ages 16-1716-17**

During school hoursDuring school hours

>4 hours pre-school >4 hours pre-school dayday

>8 hours “off-day”>8 hours “off-day”

>28 hours/week>28 hours/week

>6 days/week>6 days/week

What are your What are your responsibilities?responsibilities? Follow your Follow your employer’s safety and health rulesemployer’s safety and health rules

and wear or use all required gear and and wear or use all required gear and equipmentequipment

Follow Follow safe work practicessafe work practices for your job, as for your job, as directed by your employer / supervisordirected by your employer / supervisor

AskAsk questions! questions!

Tell your supervisor, boss, parent, or other Tell your supervisor, boss, parent, or other adult if you feel adult if you feel threatenedthreatened or or endangeredendangered at at workwork

What are your What are your responsibilities?responsibilities? Be awareBe aware of your environment at all of your environment at all

timestimes

Be involved in Be involved in establishing or establishing or improvingimproving your worksite safety and your worksite safety and health programhealth program

Trust Trust youryour instincts instincts

Health & Safety Teen Health & Safety Teen Resources:Resources:OSHAOSHA (Occupational Safety and Health (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)Administration)

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/index.htmlindex.html

Health & Safety Teen Health & Safety Teen Resources:Resources:DOL DOL (Department of Labor)(Department of Labor)

http://www.youthrules.dol.gov/index.htmhttp://www.youthrules.dol.gov/index.htm

Health & Safety Teen Health & Safety Teen Resources:Resources:NYCOSHNYCOSH (NY Committee Occupational Safety & (NY Committee Occupational Safety & Health)Health)

http://www.nycosh.org/young_workers/youth-http://www.nycosh.org/young_workers/youth-factsheets.htmlfactsheets.html

NYCOSH Health & Safety NYCOSH Health & Safety Teen ResourcesTeen Resources

NYCOSH Youth Worker Fact Sheet BookletsNYCOSH Youth Worker Fact Sheet Booklets

Applying OSHA Concepts:Applying OSHA Concepts:Office Safety and HealthOffice Safety and Health

Common Office Safety and Common Office Safety and Health HazardsHealth Hazards

Physical layout and housekeepingPhysical layout and housekeeping

Exits and egressExits and egress

Fire hazardsFire hazards

Handling and storage Handling and storage


Office furnitureOffice furniture

Electrical equipmentElectrical equipment

Office machinery/toolsOffice machinery/tools

Video Display TerminalsVideo Display Terminals


VentilationVentilation

IlluminationIllumination

NoiseNoise

StressStress


What’s Wrong Here?What’s Wrong Here?

VDT Work Positions in VDT Work Positions in OfficeOffice

The following are important considerations The following are important considerations when attempting to maintain neutral body when attempting to maintain neutral body postures while working at the computer postures while working at the computer workstation: workstation:

•HandsHands, , wristswrists, and , and forearmsforearms are are straight, in-line and roughly parallel to straight, in-line and roughly parallel to the floor.the floor.

HeadHead is level, or bent slightly forward, is level, or bent slightly forward, forward facing, and balanced. Generally forward facing, and balanced. Generally it is in-line with the it is in-line with the torsotorso..

•ShouldersShoulders are relaxed and are relaxed and upper upper armsarms hang normally at the side of the hang normally at the side of the body.body.

•ElbowsElbows stay in close to the body and stay in close to the body and are bent between 90 and 120 degrees.are bent between 90 and 120 degrees.

VDT Work Positions in VDT Work Positions in OfficeOffice

The following are important considerations The following are important considerations when attempting to maintain neutral body when attempting to maintain neutral body postures while working at the computer postures while working at the computer workstation: workstation:

•FeetFeet are fully supported by floor or are fully supported by floor or footrest.footrest.

•BackBack is fully supported with is fully supported with appropriate lumbar support when appropriate lumbar support when sitting vertical or leaning back slightly.sitting vertical or leaning back slightly.

•ThighsThighs and and hipships are supported by a are supported by a well-padded seat and generally parallel well-padded seat and generally parallel to the floor.to the floor.

•KneesKnees are about the same height as are about the same height as the hips with the the hips with the feetfeet slightly forward. slightly forward.

Questions?Questions?

[email protected]@hunter.cuny.edudu

www.osha.govwww.osha.gov

www.dol.govwww.dol.gov

www.nycosh.orgwww.nycosh.org

Thank You!Thank You!

an introduction to health and safety for young workers

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