Labor Department proposes new laws for children working in agriculture

[The Straight Story]

The proposal would strengthen current child labor laws prohibiting agricultural work with animals and in pesticide handling, timber operations, manure pits and storage bins. It would prohibit youths in agricultural and nonagricultural employment from using electronic (including communication) devices while operating power-driven equipment. And it would prohibit farm workers under age 16 from participating in cultivation, harvesting and curing of tobacco.

The department also proposes to create a hazardous occupations order that would prevent children under 18 from being employed in storing, marketing and transporting of farm-product raw materials.

Prohibited places of employment would include country grain elevators, grain bins, silos, feed lots, stockyards, livestock exchanges and livestock auctions.

Additionally, the proposal would prohibit farm workers under 16 from operating almost all power-driven equipment. . A limited exemption would permit some student learners to operate certain farm implements and tractors, when equipped with proper rollover protection structures and seat belts, under some conditions.

http://www.alpineavalanche.com/news/article_9e7c8a70-e52c-11e0-a97a-001cc4c03286.html

[sinkingfeeling]

1. I don't know. I can see these rules for employment, but most farm kids start

criving tractors, hauling grain, and raising animals at early ages.

[Abq_Sarah]

2. From what I've found

The death/injury statistics for individuals under the age of 20 is quite small so I'm wondering what's prompted this.

[Gormy Cuss]

4. The proposed regs will not apply to kids working on their family farm.

IOW, this is limited to workers for hire and as is says in the article is an attempt to bring the regs for child ag workers in line with those for nonag workers.

[kelly1mm]

3. Not applicable to children working on their family farms. I am OK with it then. nt