"Today's regulations protect young employees from dangerous machines and tools, excessive work hours and other hazards at work," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These rules incorporate recommendations from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and take a common sense approach to keeping young workers safe from harm."
The new regulations give employers clear notice that there are certain jobs children are simply not allowed to perform. They also expand opportunities for young workers to gain safe, positive work experience in fields such as advertising, teaching, banking and information technology, as well as through school-supervised work-study programs.
"With the completion of these rules, I have asked my staff to turn their attention to strengthening the regulatory protections for children working in agriculture," added Secretary Solis. "We cannot put a price on the health and safety of a child, or on the value of a positive work experience. This Labor Department will not rest in our efforts to ensure health, safety and opportunity for every worker in America."
U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at http://www.dol.gov.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
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