What jobs are off-limits for kids?

Meat Processing and Slicing

• Kids under 18 cannot operate power-driven meat processing machines, such as meat slicers, saws and meat choppers, wherever used (including restaurants and delicatessens).
• Kids under 18 cannot clean such equipment, including the hand washing of the disassembled machine parts.
• Kids under 18 cannot operate this machinery on items other than meat, such as cheese and vegetables.
• Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in meat and poultry slaughtering, processing, rendering or packing establishments.

Student-learner exemptions and other terms

Employing youth in grocery stores

Power-Driven Woodworking Machinery

• Kids under 18 cannot operate power-driven woodworking machines, including chain saws, nailing machines and sanders.

Student-learner exemptions and other terms

Compactors and Balers

• Kids under 18 cannot operate balers, compactors (including trash compactors) or certain power-driven paper-products machines.

More about loading, operating, and unloading of power-driven scrap paper balers and compactors

Forklifts and Skid-Steers

• Kids under 18 cannot operate, ride, or help use most power-driven hoisting apparatus such as forklifts, non-automatic elevators, skid-steers, skid-steer loaders, backhoes, manlifts, scissor lifts, cherry pickers, work-assist platforms, boom trucks and cranes.

Resources on young workers’ rights

Order free "No Under 18" stickers

Logging, Forestry and Sawmilling

• Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in forest fire fighting, forest fire prevention that entails extinguishing an actual fire, timber tract management, forestry services, logging or sawmilling operations.

Power-Driven Bakery Machines

• Kids under 18 generally cannot operate, clean or repair power-driven bakery machines, including vertical dough and batter mixers, dough rollers, rounders, dividers and sheeters, and cookie or cracker machines.

A short guide to child labor

Working with Metal

• Kids under 18 cannot operate power-driven metal-working machines, including forming, punching and shearing machines.

Student-learner exemptions and other terms

Power-Driven Saws

• Kids under 18 cannot operate or help on power-driven circular saws, band saws, guillotine shears, chain saws, reciprocating saws, woodchippers, or abrasive cutting discs.

Student-learner exemptions and other terms

Roofing

• Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in roofing operations, including work performed on the ground and removal of the old roof, and all work on or about a roof.

More about roofing occupations

Student-learner exemptions and other terms

Driving

• Kids under 18 generally cannot drive motor vehicles or work outside the vehicle as a driver's helper to assist with tasks such as loading, unloading or securing cargo.

More about on-the-job driving

Explosives

• Kids under 18 generally cannot work where explosives are manufactured or stored.

Seven best practices for employers

Demolition

• Kids under 18 cannot do jobs in wrecking, demolition and ship-breaking operations.

Have questions? Contact us

Mining

• Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in mining at coal mines, metal mines, quarries, aggregate mines, and other mining sites including underground work in mines, work in or about open cut mines, open quarries, and sand and gravel operations.

Have questions? Contact us

Radioactive Material

• Kids under 18 cannot do jobs where they are exposed to radioactive substances and ionizing radiation.

Have questions? Contact us

Brick and Tile

• Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in the manufacture of brick, tile and similar products.

Seven best practices for employers

Trenching and Excavation

• Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in trenching and excavation work, including working in a trench more than four feet deep.

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