Teen Landscaping May Be Dangerous

Injury rates make lawn and landscaping work among the most dangerous undertaken by school-aged youngsters, a recent report says.

Outdoor jobs in landscaping, groundskeeping and lawn services made the National Consumers League?EUR??,,????'???s list of five dangerous jobs for young workers for the first time this year, taking the No. 3 spot.

The report did not compare injury rates for experienced adult landscape workers.

Often the lure of summer cash draws teenagers to take these jobs, which can carry serious safety hazards, the NCL said.

While fatality numbers are low in these types of outdoor jobs, work often involves the use of dangerous power tools and machinery, as well as hazardous chemicals and pesticides.

?EUR??,,????'??Working to help save for college, contribute to your family?EUR??,,????'???s budget, or just to enjoy some spending cash is a great idea,?EUR??,,????'?? said Darlene Adkins, vice president for fair labor standards policy at the consumer organization. ?EUR??,,????'??But teenagers and their parents need to ask: is this safe work??EUR??,,????'??

Agricultural field work topped the list. The report said the agricultural industry accounted for 42 percent of all work-related fatalities of young workers between 1992 and 2000.

Construction work, which is the third leading cause of death among young workers, was No. 2 on the list.

The NCL said work involving tractors and all-terrain vehicles was ranked as No. 4.

Rounding out the list at No. 5 were jobs that require teenagers to travel door-to-door selling candy, magazine subscriptions or other items.

Hazards associated with working in these traveling youth crews include questionable transportation as well as crew leaders with criminal backgrounds.

More than 175 teenage workers died on the job in 2001, according to the NCL, which uses government statistics and reports, surveys of state labor departments and news accounts of injuries and deaths to compile its annual list.