A demolition contractor in Georgia is in trouble with the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) after instructing three teens to work around dynamite.
Controlled Blasting Inc. allowed three 16- and 17-year-old employees to work in an area where explosives were stored and transported and directed them to drill and cover holes where dynamite was placed for demolition activities.
The hazardous orders of the federal child labor law prohibit teens from doing this kind of work.
The DOL’s Wage and Hour Division fined Controlled Blasting $5,592 for the violation.
Filling roles not typically occupied by young workers
Teens are increasingly being used in positions that aren’t traditionally occupied by young workers as employers struggle to fill open positions, according to Wage and Hour Division District Director Steven Salazar.
“Businesses who employ minor-aged workers must educate themselves on keeping these workers safe, especially those around hazardous conditions,” Salazar said. “We encourage employers to access our Youthrules.gov website or contact the Wage and Hour Division to learn how to keep these young workers safe on the job.”
