The U.S. Department of Labor found that Winder-based Controlled Blasting Inc. allowed underage employees to work in dangerous areas.
According to the complaint, investigators with the USDOL's Wage and Hour Division discovered Controlled Blasting "allowed three 16 and 17-year-old employees to work in an area where explosives were stored and transported."
"The employer also directed these workers to drill and cover holes where dynamite was placed for demolition activities in and around Lawrenceville," the statement continued.
The company has paid a $5,592 fine because of the violations.
"Employers struggling to fill open positions have increased the numbers of teens in jobs not traditionally occupied by young workers," Wage and Hour Division District Director Steven Salazar in Atlanta said in a release. "Businesses who employ minor-aged workers must educate themselves on keeping these workers safe, especially those around hazardous conditions."
The Department of Labor urges employers to utilize resources to ensure they know the regulations.
Find that information below:
Employers can contact the Wage and Hour Division at its toll-free number, 1-866-4-US-WAGE.
Learn more about the Wage and Hour Division, including information about protections for young workers on the department's YouthRules! website.
Workers can call the Wage and Hour Division confidentially with questions – regardless of their immigration status – and the department can speak with callers in more than 200 languages.
