Child Labor Laws

[shatteredone]

What is the name of your state? UT

I have been told that Utah does not have their own Child Labor Laws and only hold to the Federal Child Labor Laws.

How do I go about finding which States also have their own Child Labor Laws and what those laws are?

 

[cbg]

According to my source, EVERY state, including Utah, has their own child labor laws.

You can find out what they are in detail by calling the Utah Industrial Commission. However, in brief, here are Utah's:

A child must be 10 years old to deliver newspapers, caddy, shoe-shine or mow lawns with a hand mower; 12 to do door to door sales, babysit, or do non-hazardous farm work; 14 to work in retail food service, auto service, janitorial service or a non-hazardous factory job; 16 for all other employment. Children under 16 may work only between the hours of 5 a.m to 9:30 p.m. on school nights, and only four hours per day on school days; otherwise they may work up to 8 hours a day/40 hours per week. Children between 16 and 18 must have a 30 minute meal break no later than 5 hours after the beginning of their workday. If they are not completely relieved of work, this break must be paid. They also must have a ten minute break every hour above three hours.

 

[shatteredone]

Thanks for your reply cbg.

I have had several local attorneys’ tell me that UT only has and abides by the Federal Child Labor Law.

I will be more specific. Can anyone tell me if it is considered illegal for a child under 18 to operate a tire-changing machine in any State?

 

[HomeGuru]

Thanks for your reply cbg.

I have had several local attorneys’ tell me that UT only has and abides by the Federal Child Labor Law.

I will be more specific. Can anyone tell me if it is considered illegal for a child under 18 to operate a tire-changing machine in any State?

**A: in the hillbilly states, children under the age of 18 change tires, operate farm equipment etc.

 

[shatteredone]

**A: in the hillbilly states, children under the age of 18 change tires, operate farm equipment etc.

Gee, I hope this isn't a trap but... can I please get a translation?

 

[racer72]

No, it is not illegal. I was running one at 15 when I worked at a gas station. But that was a long time ago.

 

[cbg]

"I have had several local attorneys’ tell me that UT only has and abides by the Federal Child Labor Law.'

Well, that'll be a surprise to the Utah Industrial Commission. I'm sure they thought they were regulating their own laws. If you were so certain those attorneys were right, why did you bother asking here?

If you have any question about whether or not a 15 year old may operate the machine you mention, a call to the UIC will take care of it.

 

[shatteredone]

"I have had several local attorneys’ tell me that UT only has and abides by the Federal Child Labor Law.'

Well, that'll be a surprise to the Utah Industrial Commission. I'm sure they thought they were regulating their own laws. If you were so certain those attorneys were right, why did you bother asking here?

If you have any question about whether or not a 15 year old may operate the machine you mention, a call to the UIC will take care of it.

I will call the Utah Labor Commission again when I know for certain who to speak with. Yesterday, after you had given me the tip of the UIC, I looked up the phone number, called them, and they answered as the Labor Commission. When I had sent an email to the LC a few weeks back they said that this machine fell under the "hoist" that was considered as a hazardous job for children 16-18. I have also read Bulletin 101 where it is very specific about the child labor laws and I could not see where the tire machine fit into that description. I am still unable to find the actual person who is in change of complete knowledge of the Child Labor Laws in UT. Anyone, with training, who has worked around the tire changing machines, knows that they can be deadly when a tire explodes. This happened to my son and he now must live with a traumatic brain injury for the rest of his life. I don't feel that he should have been allowed to work on that machine. I know that you have to be at least 18 if you want to work a box crushing machine at Wal*Mart. To operate that machine you throw the empty boxes in and the gates closes and all you do at that point is push a button and the boxes are slowly crushed.

I am trying to find out what exactly the law allows with respect to a child 16-18 working on this machine. I would also like to find out if the law differs from state to state, and if law mandates training on this machine.

 

[cbg]

Yes, the law does vary from state to state. I believe that Federal law says that only someone age 18 and up can operate hazardous equipment. However, I don't know enough about this particular machine to say whether or not it qualifies as hazardous equipment or not.

Just as an FYI, it is entirely possible that the same body functions as both the Labor Commission and the Industrial Commission. The fact that I called them the Industrial Commission (which is what my source calls it) and they answered as the Labor Commission, doesn't mean you were in the wrong place. Give them another call and tell them what you want. If you're in the wrong place, they'll be able to direct you.

My sympathies to you and your son on his injury.