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Not Just College

For parents of teenagers headed into the trades

What Your Teen Can Legally Do at Work

Most of the anxiety in this section comes down to one question: is my kid allowed to do that, and is it safe. Those are two different questions with two different answers, and this hub keeps them apart.

The federal rules live in the Fair Labor Standards Act and a set of seventeen Hazardous Occupations Orders. They are more specific than almost anyone realises, they carry exemptions that almost nobody mentions, and your state can be stricter, in which case the stricter rule is the one that governs.

  1. Can a 17 Year Old Work on a Roof?

    The flat "you must be 18" answer is wrong, and the real rule covers gutters and rooftop HVAC too. What the federal roofing order says and who is exempt.

  2. What Power Tools Can a 16 Year Old Legally Use?

    Three federal orders name the saws, woodworking machines and balers minors may not touch, and one written agreement can change the answer for a 16 year old.

  3. Child Labor Laws, Explained for Parents

    What federal law allows at 14, at 16 and at 18, the hour limits that apply only to the younger group, and why your state may override all of it.

  4. Work Permits and Age Certificates

    There is no federal work permit. Who issues them, what the paperwork asks for, and why some employers want one even where the state does not require it.

  5. What Your Teen Can Do If a Job Feels Unsafe

    The right to refuse work is narrower than most people think. What the legal test really is, and the steps that actually help a teenager on a bad job site.