Youth Employment and Family Farm Exemptions
Young people have long worked on dairies, and the rules reflect that history. But the rules also protect young workers from dangerous jobs, so details matter.
Why are there special rules for young workers?
Federal law limits what kinds of work young people can do, and when, because some farm tasks are especially dangerous. Rules exist for hazardous work, hours, and sometimes age. Agriculture has different rules from other industries, with certain exemptions.
Details, including age thresholds, hours limits and lists of hazardous tasks, change and have conditions, so check the Department of Labor and the Wage and Hour Division pages directly. This article is general education, not legal advice.
If you are a young worker or a parent, ask the dairy to describe the job in writing before the first day. A clear list of tasks and what is off limits protects everyone.
What do family farm exemptions mean?
In general terms, the rules treat children working on a farm owned or operated by their parents differently from hired young workers. The exact scope of that exemption has conditions, including who owns or operates the farm and who the relatives are.
Do not assume a family label covers every situation. A cousin, a neighbor's child or a worker on a farm owned by a corporation may not qualify. Ask an agricultural employment attorney or the agency, and write down the facts that support your answer.
What kinds of dairy tasks raise concern?
Dairy work involves large animals, heavy machinery, tractors, power equipment, chemicals, confined spaces such as manure pits and silos, and heights. Many of these are among the types of hazards that safety rules flag for young workers. OSHA and the CDC both publish farm safety material for young workers.
Even where tasks are legal, they may not be safe for a particular young person. Think about training, supervision, size, strength and experience. A good dairy gives young workers tasks that fit their skills and builds from there.
Many young people first learn dairy work through school programs and youth livestock projects. Those programs can give a good start with more structure and supervision than a regular job, and they build skills that help in later careers.
- Work around large animals
- Tractors and power equipment
- Chemicals and cleaners
- Confined spaces, silos and manure systems
What should employers do before hiring a young worker?
Verify the rules for the specific job and age with the agencies, collect any required paperwork, set a schedule that respects school and rest, and write a clear job description that avoids prohibited tasks. Make sure supervisors understand the limits.
Provide extra safety training and close supervision. Ask a parent or guardian to be informed about the job. Review wage rules, since youth pay and classification questions can be complicated. The Texas Workforce Commission provides information on youth employment in Texas.
What can young people and parents ask?
Ask what tasks the job includes, who supervises, what training is given, what protective gear is provided and what happens if there is an injury. Ask about schedule and how it fits with school. A good employer will welcome the questions.
Young workers can build real skills on a dairy. They may also find a path into careers, and the dairy career resources and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension youth programs show some of the options. Safety always comes first.
Employers should keep a simple file for each young worker with the job description, the training given, the schedule and the parent or guardian contact. If questions arise later, the file shows what you did and why. Learn more about related farm safety ideas in the youth farm safety tips.
How should injuries and insurance be handled?
Young workers can be hurt just as adults can, and sometimes more seriously. Have a plan for emergencies, and make sure supervisors know it. Texas employers should check the options for workers' compensation with the Texas Department of Insurance.
Family members working on the home farm may also need to be considered in an insurance review. Ask your insurer and attorney what applies, and do not assume that family status means no risk.
Remember that rules can change, so rechecking each season is smart. A rule you learned years ago may have been updated, and an old habit may no longer fit.
Where do you find official answers?
Start with the agency pages, then contact the local offices if you have questions. Employers can ask the Texas Farm Bureau about workshops. Keep documents showing how you reached your decision on each hire.
For a lighter read, the farm.FM education page features farm learning stories, and a farm.FM piece about kids and farm chores captures the tradition. The farm.FM dairy page has more. Always follow the official rules over any story.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Department of Labor: labor rules and programs
- DOL Wage and Hour Division: federal wage and overtime rules
- OSHA: workplace safety
- CDC: public health
- Texas Workforce Commission: employment and labor programs
- Texas Department of Insurance, Workers Compensation: Texas workers comp information
Ask locally: Ask a Texas agricultural employment attorney and the Wage and Hour Division before hiring or assigning work to anyone under 18.