GUIDELINES & POLICIES
Minors in Hazardous Work Areas

SUBJECT: Establish guidelines for minors in hazardous areas.
SOURCE: Vice President for Administration
DATE ISSUED: August, 2004

RATIONALE: The presence of minors in hazardous areas raises concerns for their safety as well as the safety of workers in the hazardous areas whose attention might be diverted by the presence of the minors.

POLICY: The mission of Indiana University is to provide high-quality educational opportunities for men and women from Indiana and throughout the world through a community of scholars actively engaged in teaching, research and public service. "Minors" often seek and acquire opportunities to study or work at IU and gain valuable knowledge and experience. In addition, student groups, such as elementary school classes, often visit the public areas of laboratory buildings. We recognize both the importance of the educational and outreach missions of Indiana University, and the need to ensure a safe and healthy environment for its employees, students, and visitors.

The following policy applies to all Indiana University operations for the appropriate visitation of laboratories or other work areas with potentially hazardous materials or conditions by minors:

Subject to the provisions of Paragraph C below, no minor may enter or be present in a work area or a University laboratory in which potentially hazardous conditions exist unless the minor is an employee (including student employees); a student or authorized participant in a University sponsored program; or an expected visitor.
IU supervisors overseeing work areas or laboratories in which potentially hazardous conditions exist are directly responsible for compliance with this policy and for the safety of all minors who are approved to be in their areas under this policy.
Supervisors will be responsible for establishing the specific guidelines under the provisions of this policy for minors in work areas or laboratories in which potentially hazardous conditions exist. Access by minors is limited to the conditions in this policy but may be more restricted if the supervisor deems it necessary for safety in a specific area or laboratory for which he or she is responsible. The supervisor will post the specific guidelines for all areas under his/her supervisor and will provide a copy to the chair or dean of the unit. The guidelines for each laboratory or work area must be revised and an updated copy provided to the dean or chair at least yearly or whenever the supervisor deems it necessary for safety in areas under his/her supervision.
Minors are not allowed in any potentially hazardous location where specific hazards or processes exist, including but not limited to, the presence of hazardous chemicals, biological materials, radioactive materials, radiation generating devices, Class III or above lasers, very "hot" or "cold" temperatures, machinery, shop equipment, high voltage and fall hazard areas, or "loud" noise, except under the following circumstances:

The minor is employed by the University and
Is authorized in accordance with all applicable policies
Has received training in all applicable safety procedures
Utilizes the proper personal protective equipment
Has adult supervision by a University employee or graduate student authorized to be in such work area or laboratory
The minor is a volunteer or intern in the laboratory and
Has been formally accepted and authorized in accordance with all applicable policies
Has received training in all applicable safety procedures
Utilizes the proper personal protective equipment
Has adult supervision by a University employee or graduate student authorized to be in such work area or laboratory
The minor is enrolled in a University class with a laboratory or workshop component and
Has received training* in all applicable safety procedures
Utilizes the proper personal protective equipment
The minor is participating in a University sponsored program and
Is authorized in accordance with all applicable safety policies
Has received training in all applicable policies
Utilizes the proper personal protective equipment
Has adult supervision by a University employee or graduate student authorized to be in such work area or laboratory

Utilize the proper personal protective equipment
Have adult supervision by a University employee or student authorized to be in such work area or laboratory
This exception #5 shall not authorize or apply to any situation in which the proper protective equipment for the minor would require additional respiratory protection beyond the use of a fume hood, or to any situation involving exposure to radioactive materials and devices or exposure to BL-2 level or higher micro-organisms.
Persons under 16 years of age, including temporary employees, are not allowed in laboratories or any other campus location in which radioactive materials, radiationgenerating equipment, hazardous chemicals or materials that are rated at Biosafety Level 2 (BSL 2) or above are present, regardless of whether they otherwise meet the criteria in Paragraph D above. The exception to this rule is that interns under 16 years of age, who have been appropriately trained in lab safety, may work in laboratories in which low levels of radioactivity are present if the intern is appropriately supervised and there is no possibility of exposure. Under no circumstances are minors allowed to work with radioactivity.

The admission of minors to potentially hazardous work areas or IU laboratories is for employment and approved educational purposes only. The University recognizes that in some University facilities employees may bring children to the workplace as a result of school closures, child illness, holidays, and other similar situations. The presence of children in potentially hazardous areas or laboratories, however, poses a significant safety hazard, not only for the child but also for the worker whose attention may be divided between his/her work and the responsibility to the safety of the child. Accordingly, minors are not permitted in potentially hazardous areas or laboratory space except under the conditions described in Paragraph C, D and E above, and may NOT be present in such laboratory space while the employee works in the laboratory. Supervisors of such spaces are responsible for assuring that any minors within their assigned space are present solely in order to participate in approved University activities.

Appropriate training may include but is not limited to:
General Laboratory Safety
Chemical Hygiene and Hazard Communication
Bloodborne Pathogens and Universal Precautions
Radiation Safety or Radiation Awareness Training
Emergency Response and Personal Protective Equipment

For purposes of this policy "hot" and "cold" temperatures when referring to air shall mean above 950F or below 400F for an extended period of time. When dealing with water temperatures, very hot means above 1000F and very cold means below 450F.
For purposes of this policy "loud" noise is defined as over 84 decibels.

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