Riskiest Summer Jobs for Teenagers – St. Louis Injured at Work Lawyers

A number of St. Louis teenagers will be on the lookout this summer for summer jobs and internships.

Summer vacations are meant for having fun, enjoying the sun, and engaging in hobbies. At the same time, a number of teenagers will be on the lookout for summer jobs and internships. Teens look for summer jobs to gain experience, enhance their knowledge and skill with regard to their professional interests, or simply to earn some spending money. It is estimated that about 1.6 million teenagers are employed during the summer season. While there are many jobs available for this seasonal workforce, certain employment opportunities may prove to be hazardous to the younger workforce.

Teen Employment Statistics

According to statistics, teenage workers are twice as more likely to get injured than adults doing the same job. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about 59,800 teenaged (under the age of 19) workers are sent to emergency rooms every year for injuries that they suffer while on the job. The National Consumers League, the nation’s oldest non-profit consumer advocacy agency, states that:

1. In the U.S., a teenager gets injured on the job every 9 minutes.
2. Annually, in the U.S., one teenage worker fatality occurs every 2 weeks.
3. In the year 2010, about 34 teenaged workers (ages 18 and less) died due to work-related injuries.

Dangerous Occupations for Teenagers

The National Consumers League issues a yearly report listing the types of jobs that are most hazardous for teen workers. The following jobs made the list for the year 2015:

• Tobacco workers – The most hazardous job for teenagers is working as tobacco workers in the tobacco industry. Tobacco harvesting poses a number of on-the-job hazards, as well as serious health hazards such as exposure to harmful chemicals in the form of pesticides and dangerous equipment used for harvesting. Exposure to excess sun and heat also adds to the danger.
• Agriculture worker – Teenagers involved in agricultural jobs are subject to harmful pesticides, chemicals, and dangerous equipment increases the possibility of injuries. Exposure to excess sun and heat also adds to the danger.
• Traveling sales worker – Door-to-door sales jobs are dangerous for teenagers as they may involve traveling and driving long distances and working in unsafe and unfamiliar neighborhoods.
• Construction workers – Construction sites are dangerous worksites for everyone. However, when it comes to teenage workers, construction sites pose twice as much danger, mainly because it requires handling dangerous tools, machinery, and electricity.
• Outdoor worker – Whether it is an odd-job mowing a lawn or a job in a landscaping company, the hazards of working outdoors include working long hours in excessive heat and sun.

Be Safe While Working

Every teenager who works during the summer break should know that they can speak to their boss clearly if they do not feel safe while working. If your teen worker is uncomfortable speaking with their boss, they should talk to a trusted adult.

Workers & Industry