Kings Island fined for violating child labor laws

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.oxfordpress.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2008/12/03/pjm120408kifine.html

By Denise G. Callahan

Staff Writer

Wednesday, December 03, 2008

Kings Island and three of its vendors have been fined $43,065 for breaking federal youth labor laws.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division slapped Kings Island with a $28,710 for allowing 14 employees under the age of 18 to illegally load and — in some cases — operate trash compactors.

Kaman's Art Shoppes, Inc. was charged $9,900 for letting 9 minors load trash compactors. Chick-Fil-A was fined $3,135 for two trash compactor violations and for allowing one minor to work past prescribed work hours. Midwest Beverage Co. had one trash compactor violation and was assessed $1,320.

"Every year, young workers are injured while performing prohibited work," said George Victor, district director for the Wage and Hour Division in Columbus. "Our goal is to foster safer workplaces and prevent injuries that can change the lives of young workers. Operating trash compactors can be exceedingly dangerous and is a violation of federal hazardous orders established by the secretary of labor, as work prohibited for persons under the age of 18."

Scott Allen, a spokesman for the labor department, said he could not divulge how Kings Island got on the department's radar screen. Sometimes workers, who feel they are underpaid or are being forced to do things that violate the law, will call the department and they don't want to jeopardize those workers' jobs.

Other times the department will just decide to investigate certain businesses. The department also investigated Coney Island and fined that amusement park $4,510 for allowing 5 minors to work longer hours; allowed a youth under the age of 16 to bake and had one trash compactor violation.

Kings Island General Manager Greg Scheid had no comment on the violations or the fines. Coney Island could not be reached for comment.

Contact this reporter at [phone] or [email protected].

[steelworkers]

1. if I remember

i think they have done this before

[Omaha Steve]

2. Welcome to the DU labor Forum

Please stop by often.