Workers under 18 may not work in dangerous jobs! Here is what the law says.

If you are Under the Age of 14 - Maryland law says that you are not allowed to be employed or to work.  There are however some jobs that are not considered "employment" if you work outside of school hours.

• Farm work performed on a farm.
• Domestic work performed in or about a home.
• Working in a business owned or operated by your parent or guardian.
• Working as a non-paid volunteer, in a charitable or non-profit organization, employed with the written consent of a parent or guardian.
• Caddying on a golf course.
• Teaching on an instructional sailboat.
• Manufacturing evergreen wreaths in or near a home.
• Delivering newspapers to the consumer.
• Working as a counselor, assistant counselor, or instructor in a youth camp certified under the Maryland Youth Camp Act.

If you get a special work permit, you can work at any age as a model, performer, or entertainer.  The application and permits are available only at the Baltimore Office of the Maryland Department of Labor.

If you are Age 14 or 15 - If you are 14 or 15 years old you are not allowed to work at the following jobs:

• Manufacturing, mechanical or processing occupations including occupations in workrooms, workplaces or storage areas where goods are manufactured or processed.
• Operation, cleaning or adjusting of any power-driven machinery other than office machines.
• Occupations in, about or in connection with:

scaffolding	a brickyard
construction	a lumberyard
airports	railroads
lye	acids
gases	dyes
boats engaged in navigation or commerce	occupations causing dust or gases in injurious quantities
any occupation "deemed injurious by the Commissioner after investigation".

However, you can work in the office or do sales work of a company that does these types of work.

In addition, you are not allowed to work in these jobs

Entertainer Exception - If you get a special work permit, you can work at any age as a model, performer, or entertainer.  The application and permits are available only at the Baltimore Office of the Maryland Department of Labor.

Money Handling Restrictions - You are not allowed to be employed to transfer money (in any amount) between 8:00 at night and 8:00 in the morning. In addition you cannot transfer more than $100 during the day (8:00am-8:00pm) unless:

• you are the child of the owner or operator; or
• the money is payment someone gave you when you delivered something or payment for a job you did.

If you are Age 16 or 17 - You are completely forbidden from working in certain jobs.  There are certain types of other dangerous jobs where you usually cannot work.  However, for these jobs there may be an exception that will allow you to work.

• Work in or near plants or establishments that make or store explosives or products that have explosive parts
• Drive motor vehicles or be an outside helper
• Work in a mine
• Work in logging
• Operate a sawmill, lath mill, shingle mill, cooperage-stock mill
• Operate a power-driven woodworking machine
• Work in an environment where you might be exposed to radioactive substances or ionizing radiation
• Operate an elevator or other power-driven hoisting machine
• Operate a power-driven metal forming, punching, or shearing machine
• Work in slaughtering, meat-packing or processing, or rendering
• Operate certain power-driven bakery machines
• Operate certain power-driven paper products machines
• Manufacture brick, tile, and similar products
• Operate a circular saw, band saw, or guillotine shears
• Work in wrecking, demolition, or ship-breaking operations
• Work in roofing operations
• Work in excavation operations

Fire & Rescue Volunteer Exception - You may work as an unpaid volunteer in a fire station or rescue squad if you have completed a course or you are in training for that type of work.

Entertainer Exception - If you get a special work permit, you can work at any age as a model, performer, or entertainer.  The application and permits are available only at the Baltimore Office of the Department of Labor.

Money Handling Restrictions - You are not allowed to be employed to transfer money (in any amount) between 8:00 at night and 8:00 in the morning. In addition you cannot transfer more than $100 during the day (8:00am-8:00pm) unless:

• you are the child of the owner or operator; or
• the money is payment someone gave you when you delivered something or payment for a job you did.

If you are Under the Age of 18 - No one under the age of 18 can work at (or near) the following jobs:

• Blast furnaces
• Docks or wharves, other than marinas where pleasure boats are sold or served
• Pilots, firemen, or engineers on any vessel or boat engaged in commerce
• Railroads
• Erection and repair of electrical wires
• Any distillery where alcoholic beverages are manufactured, bottled, wrapped, or packed
• The manufacturing of dangerous or toxic chemicals or compounds
• Cleaning, oiling, or wiping of machinery
• Any occupation forbidden by any local, state or federal law
• Any occupation which after investigation by the Commissioner is deemed injurious to the health and welfare of the minor.

Source: Maryland Department of Labor, Division of Labor & Industry Fact Sheet with edits and additional material from the Maryland Legal Assistance Network

Last date of legal review  7/1/06(MVLS/RB)