Adolescent occupational injuries in Minnesota. A descriptive study.

A descriptive study of adolescent work injuries was undertaken using information from Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry workers' compensation files. During the two-year period, 1986-1987, 1,607 work-related injuries were reported in adolescents ages 12 through 17. The largest proportions of injuries occurred in wholesale and retail trade (61.2%), services (24.1%), and manufacturing (5.8%). Injuries most commonly reported were sprains (27.1%), lacerations (26.5%), heat burns (11.4%), and contusions (8.8%). Average annual injury rates were estimated at 14.0/1,000 full-time equivalents for adolescents compared with 24.5/1,000 for adults. The extent of disability or severity of injury could not be determined except that there were no deaths reported during this period.