Augusta, ME — The variety of accidents amongst teen employees in Maine doubled over a latest 10-year interval, information from the state’s Department of Labor exhibits.
According to MDOL, 325 employees between the ages of 14 and 17 had been injured final yr – twice as many because the 2012 complete of 162.
A division press launch provides that Maine has seen a rise in violations for using teen employees with no work allow and for permitting younger staff to work past hourly restrictions. Between this previous April and June, the division additionally investigated three incidents involving teens who had been injured whereas doing jobs that are prohibited for minors.
Applications for minor work permits elevated 75% from 2017 to 2022. So far this yr, MDOL has obtained more than 4,700 minor work allow functions. Of these, about 200 had been denied as a result of they had been for a hazardous occupation not allowed beneath the regulation.
MDOL has created a workforce useful resource webpage for youth employees and their assist networks. It additionally has a Maine Laws Governing the Employment of Minors webpage to help youth and employers with any questions they could have. Both pages embody details about work permits, authorized work hours for youth, prohibited occupations, and security and well being.
