State Partners Promoting Young Worker Health and Safety
Your state’s Department of Labor
Enforces state child labor laws and state health and safety regulations, including wage and hour, workers’ compensation, and occupational safety and health divisions. Most can provide information on the laws, data on injuries and labor law violations, and sometimes funding for special projects.
- Locate your state’s Department of Labor contacts. (U.S. Department of Labor)
- Find child labor law factsheets for many states. (YouthRules)
- Locate your state’s OSHA plan (in 23 states), or the federal OSHA regional office that covers your state. (OSHA)
- Locate teen safety initiatives in many state Departments of Labor. (Federal OSHA – Young Workers)
Your state’s Department of Education
May oversee school-based work experience programs, vocational and technical education programs, and the issuing of work permits. Most can provide information to teachers, schools, and students.
- Locate your state vocational education office. (U.S. Department of Education)
- Locate state contacts for school-to-career or transition programs. (NCSET)
- Find a list of State Departments of Education. (U.S. Department of Education)
Your state’s Department of Health
May have surveillance data on work injuries, information about medical care, and educational materials on health and safety issues, including injury prevention, maternal and child health, and occupational health programs.
- Find a list of child and adolescent injury prevention and adolescent health promotion contacts for your state and region. (National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety)
- Find a list of state occupational safety and health contacts. (NIOSH)
Workforce Investment Boards
Oversee job development and training programs funded under the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA), including programs targeted for youth from low-income families.
- Find contacts and information on your state’s workforce investment board. (National Association of State Workforce Board Chairs)
Jobs for America’s Graduates
Assists states in creating dropout prevention and school-to-career transition systems for at-risk youth, including job training. JAG currently has affiliate programs in 27 states.
- Find a list of affiliates. (JAG National Network)
National Safety Council
Chapters may have information for employers, and many have conferences, workshops, and newsletters. Local safety councils may also be able to provide funds and other resources.
- Locate chapters in your state. (National Safety Council Chapter)
The Young Worker Health and Safety Network
A subcommittee of the American Public Health Association, the network has members throughout the U. S. who are health and safety researchers, educators, and advocates.
- Find a list of contact information for network members. (Young Worker Safety and Health Network)
Committees for Occupational Safety and Health (COSHs)
May also be a resource or advocate for young worker health and safety.
- Find a list of COSH organizations nationwide. (COSH)
Unions
May be especially valuable for addressing safety in particular industries. While not every union is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO, it is a good national resource for locating unions in your area.
- Locate local unions. (AFL-CIO)