Teen workers' exposures to occupational hazards and use of personal protective equipment.
BACKGROUND
Prior research indicates that working adolescents seek care for the toxic effects of on-the-job chemical and environmental hazard exposures.


METHODS
This cross-sectional survey of a nationally representative sample of 866 adolescent workers in the retail and service sector examines their exposures, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and training.


RESULTS
Two-thirds of respondents were exposed to continuous, very loud noise, 55% to thermal hazards and 54% to chemical hazards. Few teens reported using any PPE, though those who had been trained reported somewhat higher usage.


CONCLUSIONS
Teens working in the retail and service sectors experience a variety of chemical, thermal, biologic and noise exposures. Efforts to eradicate such exposures need to be complemented by increased provision of PPE and appropriate training in their use by employers.
Runyan
Carol W
CW
University of North Carolina Injury Prevention Research Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7505, USA. carol_runyan@unc.edu
Vladutiu
Catherine J
CJ
Rauscher
Kimberly J
KJ
Schulman
Michael
M
D000293:Adolescent; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D009623:Noise, Occupational; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011482:Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013696:Temperature; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace
D015386:Hazardous Substances