Teens, summer jobs and safety should go together

Teens, summer jobs and safety should go together
EDITOR:
Summer is just around the corner. Soon students will be on summer vacation and with that comes summer employment. Teenagers will be seeking and landing jobs in the fast food, restaurant, and landscaping industries. These industries pose risk factors that may not be immediately recognized by the young workers. For many, this will be their first job, and they will be eager to perform. With this eagerness, comes the hesitation to ask any questions, or to deny any order. They will be attempting to prove themselves as a "good worker." Employers along with parents should ensure that the young workers are provided information concerning their safety and health on the job.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched a new safety campaign, to help educate teens on workplace dangers and offer solid safety tips that will help them stay safe and healthy on the job.
The Teen Summer Job Safety Campaign, sponsored by OSHA , is a multi-year project to increase awareness about workplace hazards, and provide possible solutions to those hazards, for young workers, employers and their parents. Industries in which young people are likely to work during their high school and college years will be the focus. This year's targeted industry will be landscaping.
This year's theme is titled: "Landscaping -- Plant Your Feet on Safe Ground." OSHA has developed a resource kit, or "tool box," designed to help prevent injuries on the job in landscaping. The kit includes materials from OSHA, the Wage and Hour Division, the Environmental Protection Agency and other organizations on potential industry hazards, including machinery, sun and heat, and pesticides, and ways to avoid them.
The kit can be downloaded from OSHA's Teen workers Web page at: & lt;http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/teenworkers/index.html & gt;.
I would urge, employers, parents, educators and students to take a look at what the kit provides. We all want our children to work in a safe and healthy environment. It is also a very good time to establish a work ethic, which will include safe and healthy work practices.
JOHN P. LESEGANICH, CPEA
Safety and Health Consultant
Canfield
Vienna Neighborhood Watch supports fire department
EDITOR:
At the May primary election, our residents will make the decision whether to support our Volunteer Fire Department's request for a 1-mill replacement and increase levy. The current levy being replaced is 0.5 mills.
Working closely with our fire and police departments, we believe their needs are legitimate. Our firefighters need the best possible protection, as they dedicate themselves to protect us.
When the sheriff cut back and could not give us police protection, our community voted to support our own police department.
We have a motto at Neighborhood Watch -- Free is Good. We have received many donations and sponsored fund-raisers to raise money to purchase needed items for our safety forces. It's going to take a lot of chili to purchase turn-out gear. Another Police vs. Fire Chili Cook-Off will be held at the fire station on Monday, April 24, at 5:30. Our firemen will be there to answer your questions, and display items that are of major concern.
We support and appreciate our fire department. For too long our firefighters have done without. We depend on them. Let them know that they can depend on us.
ROSEANN KENNEDY, President
SHIRLEY WITTENAUER, Vice President
Vienna Township Neighborhood Watch
Vienna