Citation

Rauscher KJ, Myers DJ, Miller ME. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2016; 59(11): 959-968.

Affiliation

Child Labor/Young Worker Specialist, Seattle, Washington.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22619

PMID

27345725

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evidence shows that violations of the United States (US) child labor regulations are common. The main purpose of this study was to investigate the magnitude and nature of work-related deaths among youth involving violations of US child labor regulations.

METHODS: We analyzed Census of Fatal Occupational Injury data from 2001 to 2012 using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests.

RESULTS: Between 2001 and 2012, 406 workers under age 18 were recorded in the CFOI as having suffered a fatal work-related injury. Among these cases, 233 were covered by the US child labor regulations. Forty-three percent of these cases involved at least one violation. The majority of cases that were not covered by the regulations involved decedents working on their family's farms (N = 139).

CONCLUSIONS: Violations of federal child labor regulations are a significant contributor to work-related deaths among youth in the United States. Increased investment in enforcement is needed to prevent further young worker deaths involving child labor violations. Am. J. Ind. Med. 9999:1-10, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en