Concord violated federal child labor laws by employing 14- and 15-year-old employees for too many hours and under unsafe working conditions at the Douglas N. Everett Ice Arena, a U.S. Department of Labor investigation found.
The city was fined and has paid $9,645 in penalties after one of four employees in that age group was burned while operating a deep-fat fryer at the rink’s snack bar, the labor department said Wednesday. The fryer was “not equipped with a device that automatically lowers and raises the basket into and out of the hot oil,” federal officials said.
“Investigators also found the City of Concord employed 14- and 15-year-old employees to work more than 8 hours on a non-school day, more than 3 hours on a day when school was in session and later than the permitted evening hours for that age group – all violations of federal child labor regulations,” they continued.
Federal laws permit 14- and 15-year-old employees to work no more than three hours on a school day and no more than eight hours when school is not in session. They are also prohibited from working before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. any day, except between June 1 and Labor Day, when work hours are extended until 9 p.m.
“The U.S. Department of Labor is committed to helping young workers enjoy positive, appropriate and safe employment experiences,” said Manchester-based Wage and Hour Division District Director Daniel Cronin in a statement Wednesday. “Child labor laws ensure that young people’s work does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities and curtail injuries such as the one that occurred in this case. Child labor violations are avoidable and all employers should strive to provide a safe and healthy on-the-job experience for young workers.”