With the school year coming to a close, many teens will be looking for a summer job. If considering hiring a minor to work in your office, please make sure to take a moment to review guidance from the Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) regarding relevant rules and regulations.

Generally, the legal age to work in Washington State is 14 years old. For minors under 14, an employer must first get permission from a Superior Court judge in the county where the minor lives.

Before an employer can hire a minor, they must have the following:

• Minor work permit endorsement on their business license
• A completed and signed parent/school or summer authorization form
• Proof of age document (i.e., a birth certificate or driver’s license)

There are also specific meal and rest break requirements and hours of work limitations for teens that vary during the school year or summer break. Additionally, employers must ensure that minors are not performing prohibited job duties.

Minors Working in a Dental Office

There are some restrictions on the duties a minor can perform in a dental office, particularly surrounding bloodborne pathogens. Essentially, minors cannot perform any job where they can come into contact with blood or any other bodily fluid or tissue, unless they are students in a healthcare education program. This does not restrict them from working at a dental office but does restrict duties they can perform.

WAC 296-125-030 (24) specifies that minors cannot work in:

Occupations where there is a risk of exposure to bodily fluids or transmission of infectious agents, including but not limited to hepatitis and HIV…including lab work which entails the cleaning of medical equipment used to draw or store blood or other contaminated tissue; duties which involve venipuncture; and duties involving work with laundry from health care facilities; unless the minor is a student in a bona fide health care career training or vocational education program.

Additional information regarding minors working in a dental office can be found on WSDA’s regulatory FAQ page.

Questions?

For more information, please visit L&I’s website. Additional questions can be directed to teensafety@lni.wa.gov or (360) 902-6059.