• Mary E Miller and Diane Bush.
• Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, Employment Standards Program, Olympia, Washington 98504-4510, USA. mmar235@Lni.wa.gov
• Am. J. Ind. Med. 2004 Feb 1; 45 (2): 218-21.

BackgroundChild labor regulations are intended to protect our young and most vulnerable workers. While regulations are not the only strategy for providing a safe and healthy work environment for young workers, they are the first step in setting the community standard to protect them. The world of work has changed since the first child labor laws were issued in 1939. The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) enlisted assistance from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to evaluate the current list of hazardous and prohibited occupations and to make recommendations for changes to the regulations.MethodsA group of national experts reviewed the recommendations made by NIOSH. The consensus review process identified areas of agreement, disagreement, and priorities for the DOL's Wage and Hour Division. Gaps in the hazardous orders not addressed in the recommendations were also identified.ResultsThis commentary describes the background of the Hazardous Orders under the Fair Labor Standards Act, the evaluation by NIOSH, the process used to review it, and recommendations for further action.ConclusionsThe NIOSH report is a valuable resource for anyone working to prevent occupational injuries-among adult and young workers alike. It is crucial that the DOL use the guidance provided by NIOSH and the Young Workers Safety and Health Network to improve the protections for young workers.Copyright 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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