U.S. Department of Labor
FLSA - Child Labor Rules
The Secretary of Labor has found that the following agricultural occupations are hazardous for youths under 16 years of age. No youth under 16 years of age may be employed at any time in any of these hazardous occupations in agriculture (Ag H.O.) unless specifically exempt. Exemptions (*) will apply to Ag H.O. #1 through #6 under the specific circumstances which are explained on the next page.
Ag H.O. #1*
Operating a tractor of over 20 PTO (Power-Take-Off) horsepower, or connecting or disconnecting implements or parts to such a tractor.
Ag H.O. #2*
Operating or
helping to operate any of the following machines (operating includes starting,
stopping, adjusting, or feeding the machine or any other activity
involving physical contact with the machine):
(a) Corn picker, cotton
picker, grain combine, hay mower, forage harvester, hay baler, potato digger,
or mobile pea viner;
(b) Feed grinder, crop dryer, forage blower, auger
conveyor, or the unloading mechanism of a non-gravity-type self-unloading wagon
or trailer; or,
(c) Power post-hole digger, power post driver, or
nonwalking-type rotary tiller.
Ag H.O. #3*
Operating, or
assisting to operate any of the following machines (operating includes
starting, stopping, adjusting, or feeding the machine, or any other activity
involving physical contact with the machine):
(a) Trencher or
earthmoving equipment;
(b) Fork lift;
(c) Potato combine; or,
(d) Power-driven circular, band, or chain saw.
Ag H.O. #4*
Working on a
farm in a yard, pen, or stall occupied by a:
(a) Bull, boar, or stud
horse maintained for breeding purposes; or
(b) Sow with suckling pigs, or
cow with newborn calf with umbilical cord present.
Ag H.O. #5*
Loading, unloading, felling, bucking, or skidding timber with a butt (large end) diameter of more than 6 inches.
Ag H.O. #6*
Working from a ladder or scaffold at a height of over 20 feet (working includes painting, repairing, or building structures, pruning trees, picking fruit, etc.).
Ag H.O. #7
Driving a bus, truck, or automobile when transporting passengers, or riding on a tractor as a passenger or helper.
Ag H.O. #8
Working
inside:
(a) A fruit, forage (feed), or grain storage structure designed
to retain an oxygen deficient or toxic atmosphere - for example, a silo where
fruit is left to ferment;
(b) An upright silo within 2 weeks after silage
(fodder) has been added or when a top unloading device is in operating
position;
(c) A manure pit; or,
(d) A horizontal silo while operating
a tractor for packing purposes.
Ag H.O. #9
Handling or applying agricultural chemicals if the chemicals are classified under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act as Toxicity Category I -- identified by the word "Danger" and/or "Poison" with skull and crossbones; or Toxicity Category II -- identified by the word "Warning" on the label. (Handling includes cleaning or decontaminating equipment, disposing of or returning empty containers, or serving as a flagman for aircraft applying agricultural chemicals.)
Ag H.O. #10
Handling or using a blasting agent including, but not limited to dynamite, black powder, sensitized ammonium nitrate, blasting caps and primer cord.
Ag H.O. #11
Transporting, transferring, moving, or applying anhydrous ammonia (dry fertilizer).
