South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog
According to recent statistics from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, the unemployment rate in the state for March dropped from 9.4 to 9.0. This decrease serves as the largest monthly drop in the last 20 years.
We saw a drop similar to this one only back in 1992, according to Governor Rick Scott. In the month of March, the state of Florida added nearly 11,000 jobs and more than 100,000 private sectors jobs have been created since Scott took office. With more people back at work, risks for an on-the-job injury in Parkland and elsewhere are much, much higher.
“The largest monthly unemployment rate decline in 20 years is a milestone all Floridians can celebrate. This news comes on the heels of significant steps taken this week to make Florida the best state in the nation to live and do business,” said Scott.
Our Parkland injury attorneys understand that the unemployment rate in the state is dropping much faster than the national rate. While this means that Florida’s economy is recovering, it also means that more people are back at work and risks for accidents are growing. As we plow through the month of May, students throughout the state will be let out of school for summer break and will also be hitting the job market. During this time, parents and guardians are asked to speak with the young workers in their family to make sure that they know what they’re up against, what to expect and what their rights are on the job. Education helps to fuel a safe work environment and helps to keep employees safe.
Child Labor Laws, according to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation, for children ages 16- and 17-years-old:
-May not work during school hours.
-Are allowed to work only 30 hours a week while school is in session.
-Cannot work before 6:30 a.m. and may not work later than 11:00 p.m.
-Are only allowed to work 8 hours a day when school is scheduled on the following day.
-May work any number of hours when school does not follow the work day.
-Have no limitation on hours work while school is not in session.
-Cannot work more than 6 days in a row.
-Cannot work more than 4 hours in a row without at least a 30 minutes break.
It is important to talk with your teen worker about the dangers that can be found on the job. Urge them to speak up if they witness a hazard on the job that could result in an accident or an injury. Workers have a right to speak up about safety concerns and are encouraged to do so.
Employees are reminded that they are required to comply with child labor laws as well as occupational health and safety regulations that apply to their business. They’re to assess and eliminate all dangers and hazards not only for teen workers, but for all workers on the site. Employers are also required to train teen employees to use safe work practices, recognize hazards and prepare for emergencies. Lastly, employers are to assure that teen workers are appropriately supervised at all times.
The legal team at Freeman, Mallard, Sharp & Gonzalez are a group of experienced attorneys who are here to represent personal injury victims and their families who have been injured or killed in an accident in Parkland or in any of the surrounding areas. Call us at 1-800-561-7777 to schedule an appointment for a free and confidential consultation to discuss your case.
More Blog Entries:
Child Injuries in Riviera Beach and Elsewhere Targeted by Poison Prevention Week, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 23, 2012
Child Injury in Palm Beach County Possible with Recently Discovered Child Product Defects, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 21, 2012