Show Under 16 16 Farm FarmHands Hands Hads Excluded From Hazards An order prohibiting hired I IAn youn youngsters under 16 from pr per forming dangerous farm jobs has been issued by bv Secretary of effective effective Labor Willard Wirtz January 1 INCREASING mechanization and use of chemicals have caus ed farm work to become one of of the most hazardous occupations in the Nation Driving buses or large tract tract- tractors tractors ors handling blasting materials and certain pesticides ing power saws working on lad ders dels over 20 feet high or driving ing cars and trucks on the highway are some of the chores among the 16 prohibited by the Secretary's new Hazardous Oc Oc- Oc Occupation's Order MOST FARM jobs usually handled by youngsters under 16 are not affected by the order according to the department Also unaffected are tasks per per- performed formed by students enrolled in vocational education training programs 4 II members in certain programs and boys and girls under 16 who work on their parents farm The order is effective until January 1 1970 A departmental survey of seven states showed that nearly farm workers 10 to 17 years old were injured in a year two period National Safety Council figures on the death rate of agricultural work ers are exceeded only by those for miners and construction workers The new order was de de- de designed signed to prevent accidents without impeding the use of hired farm hands under 16 who account for roughly one fourth of UI th total farm labor force |