Workplace Accident at Wisconsin Sawmill

Like most workplace accidents, the tragedy that took place at a Wisconsin sawmill in June didn't have to happen. In fact, Michael Schuls, a high school student who had turned 16 just weeks before his death, should never have been trying to unjam a stick stacker machine at Florence Hardwoods in the first place.

So concluded the Department of Labor, which on Dec. 19 announced a nearly $1.4 million fine against the mill where Schuls was fatally injured. An investigation by the agency's Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that Florence Hardwoods let several minors, including Schuls, perform maintenance on equipment without training and without following required safety procedures.

Florence Hardwoods disputes the agency's allegations that it let minors operate and maintain dangerous machinery without training or safety procedures. "At no time did we intentionally put minors in harms' way," the company told CBS MoneyWatch in a statement.

Child Labor Violations in the U.S.

Recent incidents, like the death of a high school football player, have shed light on the growing issue of children and teens working in hazardous jobs meant for adults in the United States. This is a violation of federal laws that aim to protect minors. According to the Labor Department, there were 955 investigations conducted in fiscal 2023, which found child labor violations, marking a 14% increase from the previous year. In the 12-month period ending September 30, approximately 5,800 kids were found to be illegally employed, representing an 88% increase since 2019.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that between 2018 and 2022, 57 children aged 15 and younger died from injuries sustained at work, while 68 teenagers aged 16-17 died on the job during the same five-year period.

"This is happening now"

Investigations have revealed a concerning trend of underage workers being employed in potentially dangerous jobs. Manufacturing facilities and meat processing plants, for example, have seen an increase in young employees. These jobs often involve using toxic chemicals to clean the slaughterhouse floor and handle other remains. A spokesperson for the Labor Department stated, "This is a 21st century problem in the United States — this isn't a third-world country. In the United States, this is happening now. We have very young minors doing serious, hazardous jobs, using dangerous equipment," as reported by CBS MoneyWatch.

Multiple factors are driving the troubling rise in child labor, which conjures images from the turn of the 20th century through the 1930s, when American children 10 and younger commonly worked on farms, on the street and in industrial settings.

In recent years, an influx of migrant children fleeing poverty and violence in Latin America has provided a pipeline of workers for employers willing to exploit them, particularly given that many kids arrive in the U.S. without a parent. As of December 1, there were more than 10,500 unaccompanied children in the care of the Department of Health and Human Services.

A number of states are also moving to weaken rules against child labor. Since 2021, at least 10 states have introduced or passed laws rolling back protections for children, the Economic Policy Institute noted in a recent report. The legislative push is "part of a coordinated campaign backed by industry groups intent on eventually diluting federal standards that cover the whole industry," according to the left-leaning think tank.

Relatedly, a tight labor market has made it harder for meat processors, farms, roofing contractors and other employers to find workers willing to do physically taxing, often low-paying work.

Meanwhile, although in 2023 the Labor Department has slapped businesses with more than $8 million for employing minors, for larger employers such fines are often considered the cost of doing business. The maximum civil monetary penalty for a child labor violation is $15,138 a child.

Child Labor Violations in the Woodworking Industry

The Department of Labor has expressed concerns about the lack of immediate consequences for companies found guilty of child labor violations. "We've seen these penalties paid the next day. They cut the check and move on — that is a challenge for us," said a spokesperson from the Labor Department. The agency has been advocating for Congress to increase the allowable fines.

One contributing factor to the prevalence of child labor is the use of outside staffing firms. Many workers are hired through these firms, which shields employers from potential liability if violations occur. In cases where children have been found working in plants, major poultry and meat producers have often denied any knowledge and pointed to the third-party firms responsible for recruitment.

A "hardworking, loving" boy

Florence Hardwoods, a wood manufacturing company, recently faced a fine following the death of a young worker. The company agreed to pay approximately $191,000 in a settlement with the Labor Department. The investigation into child labor violations was initiated after the tragic incident.

"There is no excuse for allowing underage workers to operate this type of machinery," stated Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, when the agreement with Florence Hardwoods was announced. "Federal child labor and safety regulations exist to prevent employers from putting children at risk."

During the investigation into the death of the young worker, it was revealed that there were a total of nine minors, aged 14 to 17, employed at the mill. Some of these teenagers were found to be operating saws and other automated equipment, which is illegal for individuals under the age of 18, according to the Department of Labor.