Getting Started – If You Hire Employees Under Age 18
If you hire employees under age 18, here are some basic steps to take. See the fact sheet below for a summary of key information you will need.
- Know the Law. Child labor laws prohibit teens from working late and/or long hours, and doing especially dangerous work.
- Check your compliance. Make sure teen employees are not assigned work schedules that violate the law, or given prohibited job tasks like operating heavy equipment or using power tools.
- Make sure teens have work permits. Workers under 18 must apply for work permits at their school or school district office before beginning a new job. Work permits are not required for those who have graduated from high school or passed the high school equivalency exam.
- Stress safety to supervisors. Make sure frontline supervisors who give teens their job assignments know the laws. Encourage supervisors to set a good example.
- Train teens to put safety first.
- Give teens clear instructions for each task. Provide hands-on training.
- Observe teens while they work, and correct any mistakes.
- Encourage teens to let you know if there is a problem or directions are unclear. Make sure teens feel free to speak up.
- Prepare teens for emergencies—accidents, fires, violent situations, etc. Show them escape routes and explain where to go if they need emergency medical treatment.
- Supply personal protective equipment when needed—goggles, safety shoes, masks, hard hats, gloves, etc. Be sure that teens know how to use it.
Factsheets
- Facts for Employers: Safer Jobs for Teens (English)
- Facts for Employers: Safer Jobs for Teens (Spanish)
