Article 6: Teen Jobs and Career Readiness: A Six-Part Series: Safety Is Part of Career Readiness

Common risks, employer responsibilities, prohibited work, and a teenager’s right to speak up.

8/14/20261 min read

Article 6: Safety Is Part of Career Readiness

Common risks, employer responsibilities, prohibited work, and a teenager’s right to speak up.

A positive first job must be a safe one. Young workers may be unfamiliar with workplace hazards, unsure of their legal protections, or hesitant to question a supervisor.

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, limited experience and insufficient safety training can contribute to the relatively high rates of job-related injuries among young workers.

Employers are responsible for providing proper instruction, suitable protective equipment, and a workplace free from known hazards. Training should be specific to the duties the teenager will perform and presented in language the young worker understands.

Teenagers should know how to:

  • Recognize common workplace hazards

  • Use required safety equipment correctly

  • Respond during an emergency

  • Report an injury or unsafe condition

  • Ask for help when they have not been trained

  • Identify duties they are legally prohibited from performing

  • Contact a parent, appropriate agency, or trusted adult when necessary

Federal law generally prohibits workers under 18 from performing certain hazardous jobs. These restrictions cover work involving equipment and activities such as forklifts, many power-driven machines, roofing, demolition, explosives, and most on-the-job driving. Additional restrictions apply to workers who are 14 or 15.

State laws may provide greater protections, so families and employers should check both federal and state requirements.

Most importantly, teenagers should understand that asking questions and reporting unsafe conditions are signs of good judgment, not insubordination. Learning to recognize hazards, understand workplace rights, and communicate concerns is itself an important part of career readiness.

A first job should help a young person build independence and confidence. It should never require them to sacrifice their safety.