EMPLOYMENT OF MINORS AS AMBULANCE ATTENDANTS
Under Section 7.3(g) of the Child Labor Law, minor ambulance attendants are restricted to participating intraining" activities.The Department of Labor and Industry has interpreted this provision to allow 16- and 17-year-old volunteerambulance association members to participate in "on-the-job" training if the 16- or 17-year-old has completed thefollowing:
1. a course in CPR and
2. either
a) an advanced first-aid program, or
b) an emergency medical technician (EMT) program.
16- and 17-year-olds who have completed such programs are permitted to receive "on-the-job" training as ambulance attendants only if they are at all times under the constant supervision of an adult ambulance company member 16- and 17-year-olds are prohibited by law from driving an ambulance under any circumstances. In addition, 16- and 17-year-old ambulance trainees are subject to Child Labor Law restrictions on hours. They may not serve as ambulance attendants for more than 8 hours in one day, and must be given a half-an-hour, "off-duty" lunchbreak if they are on duty more than 5 straight hours. Further, they may not serve on duty later than 12 midnight on school nights or 1 A.M. on Friday and Saturday nights and during school term vacations. (no night restriction during summer vacation) In practice, trainees who answer ambulance calls prior to the 12 midnight or 1 A.M. deadline may continue to serve as attendants for the duration of that call, even if this means serving past 12 or 1 A.M. They should not, however, go out on any additional calls after 12 or 1.All minor ambulance attendants must have employment certificates. These certificates may be obtained through the office of the superintendent of the school district in which the minor attends. Finally, 17-year-olds who have graduated high school are not. considered minors under the Child Labor Law. Therefore, any 17-year-old high school graduate would not be subject to any of the above restrictions. This exemption also applies to those 17-year-olds who have been declared by the chief school administrator to have achieved their academic potential.
JUNIOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS
I. Minors Under 16 Under The Child Labor Laws
Junior volunteer firefighters under 16 are restricted by law to the following activities:
1. first-aid.
2. clean-up service at the scene of afire, but only outside of the structure and only after the fire has been declared under control by the fire official in charge.
3. providing coffee wagon and food services.
4. engaging in training.
Junior firefighters under 16 are specifically prohibited by law from the following:
1. operating an aerial ladder, or platform, or a hydraulic jack.
2. using rubber electrical gloves, insulated wire gloves, insulated wirecutters, lifenets or acetylenecutting units.
3. operating the pumps of any fire vehicle at the scene of a fire.
4. driving a firetruck, ambulance or other official fire vehicle.
5. entering a burning structure..
6. operating high-pressure hose lines except during training.
7. ascending ladders except during training.
Junior firefighters under 16 are prohibited from engaging in fire company activities while school is in session and between 7 P.M. and 7 A.M. (10 P.M. and 7 A.M. during school summer vacation). Junior firefighters under 16 may, however, attend firefighting classes as part of a training program even after 7 P.M. during the school year.
II. 16- and 17-Year-Old Minors
16- and 17-year-old minors who have completed a fire training course (such as one given at a county fire
school) may participate in firefighting activities if they are under the direct supervision of the fire chief or an experienced line officer.
16- and 17-year-old junior firefighters are still prohibited however, from any of the following activities by law:
1. operating an aerial ladder, or platform, or a hydraulic jack.
2. using rubber electrical gloves, insulated wire gloves, insulated wirecutters, lifenets or acetylene cutting torches.
3. operating the pumps of any fire vehicle at the scene of afire.
4. driving a firetruck, ambulance or any other official fire vehicle.
5. entering a burning structure. -
16- and 17-year-olds are normally prohibited from serving as firefighters between the hours of 12 midnight
and 6 A.M. (1 A.M. and 6 A.M. on Friday and Saturday nights and during school term vacations, but no night
restriction during summer vacations). 16- and 17-year-old firefighters who answer a fire call before the 12 or 1
o'clock deadline may continue to respond to that call past that deadline. Such volunteers may not answer any
new calls after 12 or 1 o'clock.
III. Employment Certificates
All junior firefighters must obtain an employment certificate in order to participate as members of a volunteerfire company. Such certificates may be obtained through the junior firefighters' local school district.
IV. High School Graduates
Individuals 17 or over who have graduated from high school are no longer considered minors under the Child Labor Law . Therefore, 17-year-old junior firefighters who are high school graduates are not subject to any of the above restrictions. This exemption also applies to those 17-year-olds who have been declared by the chief school administrator to have achieved their academic potential.
Workers' Compensation Minor volunteer firefighters are eligible for workers' compensation if injured while actively engaged as firefighters or while going to or returning from a fire. However, in the case of fund-raising events, junior firefighters are only eligible for workers' compensation if the local municipality specifically authorized them,through an ordinance, to engage in fund-raising activities.
Address inquiries, complaints or requests for additional copies of this poster, to one of the offices of the Bureau of Labor Standards as listed:
HARRISBURG 17120
LABOR & INDUSTRY BUILDING
PHONE: 717-787-4670
PHILADELPHIA 19123
444 NORTH 3RD STREET
PHONE: 215-351-1858
ERIE 16501
824 PEACH STREET
PHONE: 814-871-4536
PITTSBURGH 15222
STATE OFFICE BUILDING
300 LIBERTY AVENUE
PHONE: 412-565-5300
SCRANTON 18503
STATE OFFICE BUILDING
100 LACKAWANNA AVENUE
PHONE: 717-961-4577
ALTOONA 16601
STATE OFFICE BUILDING
1101 GREEN AVENUE
PHONE: 814-946-7374
|
