Michigan Targets Young Worker Safety with New Rights and Hazard Awareness Initiative
New program from LEO and MIOSHA focuses on hazard recognition, workplace rights and injury prevention for young workers entering high-risk industries.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Apr 27, 2026
Michigan officials have launched a new initiative to help young workers enter the workforce safely, with a focus on hazard awareness, labor rights and injury prevention.
The Youth Workers’ Rights Initiative, announced by the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) during Workplace Rights Week, provides online resources to help young workers recognize unsafe conditions, understand employment standards and report violations.
“As more young people enter the workforce, it’s critical they understand their rights,” LEO Director Susan Corbin said in a statement.
The Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) is contributing guidance on identifying workplace hazards and preventing injuries. Young workers are often employed in higher-risk industries such as food service, retail and agriculture.
LEO’s Wage and Hour Division is also supporting the effort with information on youth employment standards, including work hours, job restrictions and wage protections.
State officials said the initiative aims to prevent injuries and improve compliance with labor laws by educating workers early in their careers.
The state plans to expand outreach through partnerships with schools and community organizations and is developing a more formal curriculum on workplace safety and rights.
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco brings a strong and varied journalism background to her role at Occupational Health & Safety, having previously served as a multimedia editor, broadcast journalist, professor and reviewer across major news organizations. As Content Editor, she writes news and feature articles, hosts sponsor and editorial webinars, co-hosts the SafetyPod worker health and safety podcast, and manages the brand’s digital and social media presence. She is committed to informing and engaging the safety community through compelling reporting and conversations that support safer, healthier workplaces.