The National Consumers League has reported that every year 200,000 workers under 18 are injured on the job and more than 70 are killed on the job. I'm a Boy Scout leader and in talking to some of the boys, I'm amazed at the number of unsafe things the kids are asked to do at work.

Child labor laws and regulations govern the types of jobs teenagers under 18 may do. Such tasks as driving a forklift truck or an electric pallet jack are not allowed. Rutgers University reported in 1998 that in an average week, approximately 148,000 U.S. minors are illegally employed.

The five most dangerous jobs for teenagers are:

Driving or riding on forklifts and other motorized equipment.
Working alone in a cash based business or late at night.
Traveling youth crews.
Cooking jobs where teenagers are exposed to hot oil or steam.
Working at heights in the warehouse and in construction.