The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #62703

Kristina M Zierold, PhD, MS¹, Susan Garman, BSN, MS-EPH, COHNS², and Henry Anderson, MD². (1) Wisconsin Division of Public Health, One West Wilson, Room 150, Madison, WI 53701-2659, 608-261-6866, kaz5@cdc.gov, (2) Bureau of Occupational Health, Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, Division of Public Health, 1 West Wilson Street, Room B157, P.O. Box 2659, Madison, WI 53701-2659

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health has reported that approximately 200,000 adolescents suffer work-related injuries each year and another 70 die from their injuries. Limited information exists on working middle school children aged 10-14 years. We evaluated employment and injury among Wisconsin working children. A cross-sectional anonymous survey was administered to middle school students in five school districts and one large urban school in September 2001. The survey consisted of questions regarding work and work-related injury during the summer months. Of the 5,464 surveys included in the analysis, 58% (n=3189) of the students reported working during the summer months. The majority of working students reported being employed in jobs not covered by current child labor laws, including newspaper delivery, family farms, and informal work settings. Overall, 18% of students reported being injured at work. Males were more likely to be injured than females (22% vs. 15%, p <0.001). The most common causes of injury for both sexes included slips, trips and falls from flat surfaces, contact with knives or sharp objects, and falling objects. Thirty-seven percent of children working on family farms reported being injured, 24% of children working in newspaper delivery reported being injured and 21% of children working in family businesses reported being injured. Injury rates in jobs not covered by current laws are high, warranting review of federal child labor laws.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the industries where young children are working.
• Discuss the prevalence of injury and the types of injury children are experiencing.
• List sociodemographic and work factors that are associated with injury.
• Recognize the need for revision of child labor laws.

Keywords: Youth at Work, Workplace Safety

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.