Occupational Injuries and Young Worker Safety
Posted on April 2nd, 2013 by Oddo & Babat, P.C.
As graduation season approaches each year, more young people enter the seasonal or full-time workforce. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website, in 2010, there were approximately 17.5 million workers less than 24 years of age, and these workers represented 13% of the workforce. Young workers have high occupational injury rates which are in part explained by a high frequency of injury hazards in workplaces where they typically work (e.g. hazards in restaurant settings associated with slippery floors and use of knives and cooking equipment). Inexperience and lack of safety training may also increase injury risks for young workers.
In 2009, 359 workers less than 24 years of age died from work-related injuries, including 27 deaths of youth less than 18 years of age. For the 10 year period 1998 to 2007, there were an annual average of 795,000 nonfatal injuries to young workers treated in U.S. hospital injury departments.
The rate for emergency department-treated occupational injuries
of young workers was approximately two times higher
than among workers 25 years and older.
The U.S. Public Health Service has a Healthy People objective to reduce rates of occupational injuries treated in emergency departments among working adolescents 15-19 years of age by 10% by 2020, from the 2007 rate of 4.9 injuries per 100 fulltime equivalent workers.
If you believe you may have grounds to file a lawsuit involving an occupational injury or work-related accident, contact us by email or by phone at 212-642-0950 for a courtesy evaluation. An, Oddo & Babat injury attorney will evaluate your case and aggressively persue the maximum compensation.
I consulted with David the first time a couple of years ago on a serious matter that affected a very close member of my family. Not expecting a good experience from this serious situation coupled with an attorney consultation, the entire thing surprised me as it was pleasant, professional, and completely successful. We found him clear, direct, generous and extremely knowledgeable throughout the process. I give my very strongest recommendation
