FACTS

1. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports that the majority of work-related injuries among those under 18 occur in the restaurant industry.
2. Teen employees have less on-the-job experience, so they often don’t know how to protect themselves from common restaurant hazards.
3. Teens are more likely to take risks because they don’t understand the dangers.
4. If they’re only working in a restaurant for the summer and/or part-time, they may not get the amount of safety and other training that full-time workers receive.
5. Minors are often prohibited by law from performing certain hazardous tasks.
6. Long shifts can increase the chances of mistakes and carelessness that can lead to injuries.

STATS

• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the restaurant industry has one of the highest rates of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses, with a rate of 3.8 incidents per 100 full-time workers in 2020. Additionally, young workers (those aged 15-24) are more likely to be injured on the job than older workers.
• The United States has more of its youth in the workforce than any other developed country in the world. 22 youths under 18 died from work-related injuries and another 27,070 were sickened or injured. The service industry ranks highest among US industries for injury in workers ages 16-19.
• According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2020, there were 2.9 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses reported by private industry employers. Of these, 385,500 cases involved workers aged 16 to 19.
• Adolescents working in the restaurant industry in general were at six times greater risk of sustaining a work-related burn injury than teens working in any other industry, the study found. Overall, during the period studied, emergency departments treated an estimated 108,000 work related injuries to teens in all industries.
• Nearly 30% of employees in restaurants and other foodservice businesses are under the age of 20.
• According to YoungWorkers.org, the injury rate for young workers under age 25 is approximately two times higher than for workers 25 years and old.
• According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “restaurants and other eating and drinking businesses employ 11.6 million people in the United States. Nearly 30 percent of these employees are under 20 years of age.