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Did you know?
<br />
<br />Peter-'Iritz
<br />
<br />l 'hat jobs may a minor per o xn fora
<br />
<br /> As summer vacation approaches,
<br />many cities are as'king what kinds of
<br />jobs they may hire minors to per/om.
<br />Child labor is regulated at both the
<br />federal and state levels. Cities are
<br />subject to both, and ~511 have to comply
<br />with wtfichever is the more restrictive.
<br /> Both the state and federa! restric-
<br />tions' var), somewhat depending on
<br />the minor's age, and are more restric-
<br />tive for younger people. The following
<br />discussion summarizes the child labor
<br />restrictions that are most likely to
<br />concern cities. Keep in mind, that this
<br />isn't a complete list of the occupations
<br />for which a city cannot hire minors.
<br /> Generally, the intent of federal and
<br />state law is to keep minors out of
<br />hazardous occupations. Before hiring a
<br />minor for any job that involves hazards
<br />such as working w/th power equipment
<br />or machine.D', to>ftc or flammable chem-
<br />icals, physical hazards such as working
<br />at heighm or in confined spaces, it would
<br />~ wise to check with the state Labor
<br />Standards Division, at 612-296-2282; and
<br />the Federal Wage and Hours office at
<br />612-370-3371.
<br />
<br /> Before emplo.~Sng any minor, the ciD'
<br />must obtain and keep on file a copy of
<br />proof of the minor's age. This proof of
<br />age may be a driver's license, ~. birth
<br />certificate, or an "age certificate" from
<br />the superintendent of the school dis-
<br />trict in which the minor resides.
<br /> Minnesota law specifies that a minor
<br />under age 18 may not be employed to
<br />perform any work which the Depart-
<br />ment of Labor and Industry determines
<br />to be particularly hazardous or detri-
<br />mental to children's well-being. The
<br />department's list of such occupations is
<br />in Section 5200.0910 of the Minnesot~
<br />Rules. The federal law is simiiar.
<br /> The law prohibits minors from work-
<br />ing in some occupations particularly
<br />
<br /> relevant to cities. These include
<br /> employment in or about construction,
<br /> building projects, roofing, or demoli-
<br /> tion; handling fireworks or explosives:
<br /> ~indow-washing, walJ-cleanJng, palm-
<br /> ing, or. similar building maintenance
<br /> more than 12 feet above ground level;
<br /> and operating power m:mhinen.' such as
<br /> punch presses, forldiks, circular saws,
<br /> etc. Federal regulations also prohibit
<br /> minors from working in an)- excavation
<br /> more than four feet deep.
<br /> The federal provisions on driving by
<br />minors are quite restr/ctive. Minors
<br />may drive only on an "incidental and
<br />occasional" basis as part of their
<br />employment. A minor must have com-
<br />pleted a driver's education course and
<br />have a driver's license. The minor may
<br />drive only during daylight hours, and
<br />only vehicles up to 6,000 pounds. The
<br />vehicle must be equipped with seat
<br />belts and the employer must instruct
<br />the employee to use the seat belts.
<br />The federal law prohibits m/nors from
<br />to~,ing. State provisions also prohibit a
<br />minor from drMng a vehicle carD. qng
<br />passengers for hire under any circum-
<br />stance.
<br /> Under state law,, person under 18
<br />also may not work as a lifeguard, unless
<br />the minor has a Red Cross lifesaving
<br />cer*dficate or equivalent designation and
<br />is working under uninterrupted adult
<br />super~fsion.
<br /> In Minnesota, a minor may not work
<br />in any place where chemicals, fumes,
<br />gases, etc. are present at excessive
<br />tempe, arm-es or in injurious, explosive,
<br />to:dc, or flammable quantifies. (This
<br />resu-iction doesn't apply to automobile
<br />service gm'ages.) This probabb' would
<br />prohibit a minor from working in a
<br />water or sewer plant, for example.
<br />Also, a minor may not work in any
<br />area, occupation, or activity which is
<br />"hazardous or dangerous to life, limb,
<br />or health."
<br /> State law generally prohibks a minor
<br />
<br />from being employed in an area where
<br />liquor is served or consumed, subject
<br />to a few exceptions. Minors over age
<br />17 may wash or bus dishes in restau-
<br />rants, hotels, or resorts where the
<br />presence of liquor or beer is incidental
<br />to food service, but it seems doubtful
<br />whether most municipal on-sale stores
<br />would fall into this category. Minors
<br />over 16 may also work as musicians in
<br />these areas. A minor may work in
<br />other areas of the liquor establishment
<br />in which liquor is not consumed or
<br />sen'ed.
<br /> The child labor statutes and rules
<br />don't restrict the employment of
<br />minors in off-sale liquor stores,
<br />although the general restrictions that
<br />apply to other retail establishments
<br />would apply here as well. However,
<br />the Liquor Control Division takes the
<br />position that minors may be employed
<br />only as stock clerks, canT-outs, or
<br />janitors, and may not be involved in the
<br />actual sale of liquor.
<br />
<br />Minors under 16
<br /> In addition to the restrictions sum-
<br />marized above, there are further
<br />restrictions on employrnent of minors
<br />under age 16. Generally, minors under
<br />age 16 may not operate any P3nd of
<br />power machinery. This specifically
<br />includes power la'~m mowers, snow-
<br />blowers, and other power-driven la~m
<br />and garden equipment. State regula-
<br />tions, also prohibit minors under 16
<br />fi.om operating other equipment includ-
<br />ing f~.nn-type tractors or other vehi-
<br />cles; rug-cleaning, floor-polishing or
<br />floor-scrubbing equipment; and porta-
<br />ble power equipment like drills or sand-
<br />ers. Minors under 16 also may not
<br />mount tires on rims or use service
<br />station pits, racks, or lifting apparatus.
<br /> The federal provisions prohibit a
<br />minor under age 16 from any work on
<br />a ladder or scaffolds or their substi-
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<br />2.4 Minnesota Cities
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<br />47
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