Kids Under 18 Cannot Do This Work
Below are places and types of work that are off-limits for kids under 18 according to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and its regulations. There are additional rules for 14- and 15-year-olds and kids under 16 who work on ranches and farms. Employers are legally responsible for the safety and well-being of teen workers.
Brick and Tile
Kids under 18 cannot do most jobs in the manufacture of brick, tile and similar products.
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
Demolition
Kids under 18 cannot do jobs in wrecking, demolition and ship-breaking operations.
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.
Explosives
Kids under 18 generally cannot work where explosives are manufactured or stored.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Power-Driven Woodworking Machinery
Kids under 18 cannot operate power-driven woodworking machines, including chain saws, nailing machines and sanders.
Radioactive Material
Kids under 18 cannot do jobs where they are exposed to radioactive substances and ionizing radiation.
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.
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.
Working with Metal
Kids under 18 cannot operate power-driven metal-working machines, including forming, punching and shearing machines.