Is there laws to protect under age employees (under 18) from working in extreme heat when a heat advisory (VA)

Question

I told my sons employer today that he would not be in at work due to the extreme heat advisory we are having in Richmond VA currently. He knows my son is overweight and smokes, yet he also knows my son is under the age of 18. What right do I have in say so since I would be held responsible for health costs, if any, should occur with heat related illnesses? What rights does my son have in an "employment at will state-Virginia?" Additional info: My son is a carpenter helper and his current job is tearing out burned debris from a burnt home where there is no power. A generator would have to be run to even run fans. I know my sons boss could be in big trouble for not providing water/containers/ etc. but the guys basically buy their own without saying anything? I need advice. I am tired of this guy thinking he knows it all with my son getting all the static about his not showing up.

Answer 1

There is something very wrong with this picture....

The fact that your son smokes is NOT your employer's problem and neither the fact that he is over-weight. Both of them are personal problems. If the job requires physical activity and he cannot do the job, then, he simply does not belong in the particular job. It will be wise to look elsewhere for employment.

If the employer is not providing adequate facility and/or forcing the employee to work in unsafe conditions, that is one thing, but I think you are bringing in totally different issue into this.

The issue is, is this work place unsafe to any and all workers. If you believe this is the case, you should contact OSHA. The employer will be in BIG trouble if he is found violating this federal regulation.

One other thing... You didn't say how old your son is, but assuming he is close to 18 or at least old enough to accept responsibility in the real world? Then, stop speaking on his behalf and let him handle his own affairs. Or at least coach him so that he can take care of himself. You should not be calling in "sick" for him.

Construction is a hard work. Not everyone is made up for it. I know I can not do it.

Answer 2

Child Labor Laws, I know he is not a child, but pull them up on the internet. There are laws against anyone being in the heat over a certain temp due to health risks, and hey if he wants your son to come in and something happens...he then becomes responsible for medical cost per worker comp.

Answer 3

If your son is under18 smoking and over weight, you have already failed at protecting him from himself. Heat advisory just means that you should use common sense and drink plenty of fluids. People work in the hot sun in the south all the time. I am 51 and used a push mower on the lawn in south ga today. I drank lots of water and wore a cap. Made it fine.

Answer 4

Dude, in simple terms take a label or cost sticker off some or album and paste it over the Parental Advisory element. Or get a job and purchase the album your self. while i replaced into under 18, no save ever denied me an album according to that parent sticker. it is an advisory, it does not recommend people under 18 at the instant are not allowed to purchase the album.

Answer 5

The LAW that governs your son's situation with his employer AND with the state of VIRGINIA is called KARMA.

This may not be the answer you're looking for... but the UNIVERSAL LAW governing SUPPLY and DEMAND urged the early inhabitants of VIRGINIA to aquire and maintain SLAVE LABOR.

I'm sure you're aware that the PRINCIPLE REASONING given for obtaining AFRICAN slaves was their ability to endure LONG HOURS of LABOR under the HOT and extremely HUMID climate in VIRGINIA.

YOU, and your son have the ability (and the FREEDOM) to CHOOSE...HOW (and what RATE) you will be compensated for your LABOR and HOW you CHOOSE to EARN a living.

Many of our ANCESTRAL FOREBEARS,...be they BLACK or WHITE did not have the benefit of a choice.

The French philosopher JEAN-PAUL SARTE suggests that our SLAVERY or PRISON...is that we MUST CHOOSE to be FREE...or to be a SLAVE of unjust laws and their legislators.