Severe injury and the need for improved safety training among working teens

Objectives: To evaluate work characteristics and safety training among teenagers with severe work-related injuries. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to 68 10 high school Wisconsin students in May 2003. Results: Fifteen percent of working teens reported being injured at work. Variables associated with severe injury included having a near-miss incident at work (AOR=8.72,95%CI=5.51-13), working after 11:00 PM (AOR=4.21, 95%CI=2.08-8.53), and being ask to do something dangerous (AOR=2.59, 95%CI=1.53-4.39). Conclusions: Prohibiting teens from working long and late hours, improved safety training, and increased communication between teens and their coworkers and supervisors may help reduce the occurrence of injury.