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.