HIGH LIFE: A WEEKLY FORUM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS : Ask Questions to Ensure Jobs Are Safe and Legal

So you got a summer job at a local warehouse--and it’s great because you’re paid $1 more an hour than your friend who just started working at Edwards Cinemas. Plus the boss said he might teach you to drive a forklift.

But if you’re under 18, could some aspects of your summer job be illegal? With an estimated 100,000 job-related illnesses and injuries occurring each year to teen-age workers, high school students need to make sure their summer jobs are safe, labor experts say.

Child labor violations are widespread in the U.S. workplace, says Linda Golodner of the National Consumers League, who warns parents that before they sign a consent form they be aware that violations of child labor laws could put a teen at risk.

The infractions could be as mild as working past 9 p.m. if you’re under 16. On weeknights during the school year, 7 p.m. is the limit. (California recently tightened its law in this area to match federal regulations, said Bill Buhl, regional administrator for the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor.)

Other violations include underpaying minors or allowing those under 18 to drive motor vehicles, operate power-driven machines or work in wrecking or demolition.

Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.), who chairs the subcommittee on children and family, is working to pass new child labor laws but emphasized that many things affecting teen-agers’ safety don’t need a law; they just need parents’ involvement.

To ensure a safe environment, experts at the National Consumers League and the National PTA suggest asking a would-be employer these questions:

* Exactly what kind of work will I be doing and what will the hours be?

* What will I be paid, and how often?

* Under what conditions might I be asked to work extra hours? Will there be overtime pay?

* Will I be asked to substitute in another worker’s job?

* If extra work keeps me out late, what arrangements will be made to ensure that I get home safely?

* How often do younger employees pull late shifts? (Ask to talk to them yourself.)

* What kind of equipment will I be working with? Are there any risks?

* What sort of training programs are offered to ensure employee safety?

* How long has the employer been using young people for this type of work? (In recent years, some employers have cut costs by employing children in jobs previously held by adults, making the jobs enticing to young people with pay that is slightly more than what they would normally earn.)

* Does the job involve traveling? (Students just out of high school have been lured into traveling sales jobs in which they work 60 to 80 hours a week and live in shabby motels.)

The federal laws employers must follow are covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act. You can get a copy of these laws by contacting your local Department of Labor office, which also will have information on local laws.

In addition, a booklet titled “Is That Traveling Sales Job Right for You?,” designed for teen-agers, has some excellent guidelines for any age and occupation. Send a self-addressed, stamped business-size envelope to the Direct Selling Education Foundation, 1776 K St. NW, Suite 600, Washington, D.C. 20006.