We’ve talked about teenage workers on the blog before, and how it is especially important that they are trained in proper safety techniques and are closely monitored. With minimal experience they can be easily injured, more so than someone who has been on the job for many years who might more easily recognize the difference between a safe situation and an unsafe situation.

Unfortunately one Ohio teen lost his hand after his employer allowed him to work on an old machine that was not safe, and the teen was not even old enough to be operating the piece of machinery in the first place.

Shady Knob Pallet Co. in Middlefield, OH employed a 14-year-old boy and allowed him to work on a wood planer to make wooden pallets. Workers under 18 are not allowed to operate powered woodworking machines. This particular machine also did not have safety guards on it that would protect workers. As a result the 14-year-old worker lost his hand.

After an inspection, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued the company 17 serious safety violations totaling $43,200 in fines. They allowed the minor to work on a machine he was not supposed to, they did not train their staff in first aid or have a plan in place that would protect workers if they were exposed to blood while administering first aid. They did not provide personal protective equipment or train on how to use it, they did not teach their workers about chemical hazards at work or how to store flammables properly. They are also under investigation for possibly violating child labor laws.