With the school year back in full swing in the Cape Region, many teenagers are hitting the books during the day and working after school and on weekends.
As parents, teachers and community members, we all want to ensure that teens in our communities have safe, healthy jobs that don’t hinder their educational opportunities.
Teens have the same rights as all other workers – the right to a safe workplace, job safety training, required safety and personal protective equipment, the right to ask workplace safety- and health-related questions and speak up without fear, and the right to file complaints.
The first job for many young workers is in the restaurant industry, especially fast-food establishments. Restaurants and other retail businesses rank high among U.S. industries for risk of adolescent worker injuries. It is the responsibility of restaurant and all employers to provide a safe workplace for teens and all workers.
Learn more about workplace rights for teens at osha.gov/young-workers. By staying informed and raising awareness of federal safety and health laws, we can all ensure that teens across the Cape Region have good, safe jobs.
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