Document Citation: 43 P.S. § 40.7

Header:
PENNSYLVANIA STATUTES
TITLE 43. LABOR
CHAPTER 2. CHILD LABOR
CHILD LABOR ACT

Date:
02/14/2014

Document:
§ 40.7. Minors serving in volunteer emergency service organizations

(a) GENERAL RULE.-- An individual who is 14 years of age or older who is a member of a volunteer emergency ser-vice organization may participate in training and emergency service activities except as follows:

(1) A minor may not operate a truck, ambulance or other official fire
vehicle.

(2) A minor may not operate an aerial ladder, aerial platform or
hydraulic jack.

(3) A minor may not use rubber electrical gloves, insulated wire
gloves, insulated wire cutters, life nets or acetylene cutting units.

(4) A minor may not operate the pump of a fire vehicle while at the
scene of a fire.

(5) A minor may not enter a burning structure under any circumstance
including a training exercise.

(6) A minor may not engage in firefighting activities unless all of the
following apply:

(i) The minor is 16 years of age or older.

(ii) The minor has successfully completed a course of training equal
to the standards for basic firefighting established by the State Fire
Commissioner and the Department of Conservation and Natural
Resources.

(iii) The minor is under the direct supervision and control of the
fire chief, an experienced line officer or a designated forest fire
warden.

(b) ADDITIONAL LIMITATIONS.-- In addition to the limitations set forth under subsection (a), the activities of indi-viduals more than 13 years of age and less than 16 years of age shall be further limited as follows:

(1) An individual who is more than 13 years of age and less than 16
years of age shall only be permitted to perform the following
activities:

(i) Training.

(ii) First aid.

(iii) Cleanup service at the scene of a fire, outside the structure
and after the fire has been declared by the fire official in charge
to be under control.

(iv) Serving food and beverages.

(2) An individual who is more than 13 years of age and less than 16
years of age may not do any of the following:

(i) Operate high pressure hose lines except during training
activities. A high pressure hose line is any water hose used for
fire suppression with a pressure greater than 150 psi, any air hose
with a pressure greater than 100 psi and any hydraulic hose used for
rescue tools with a pressure greater than 1,000 psi.

(ii) Ascend ladders except during training activities.

(c) OTHER PROHIBITED ACTIVITIES.-- The department may prohibit other activities that it deems hazardous to the health of minors through regulation.

(d) OTHER PROVISIONS.--

(1) Except as set forth under this subsection, this section does not
supersede any other provision of this act or any regulation promulgated
under this act.

(2) A minor may continue serving in answer to a fire call until excused
by the individual acting as chief of the fire company if the minor:

(i) is 16 years of age or older;

(ii) is a member of a volunteer fire company; and

(iii) answers a fire call while lawfully employed.

(3) An individual who is 14 or 15 years of age may engage in training
or firefighting activities permitted under this section until 10 p.m.
before a school day if the minor:

(i) is a member of a volunteer fire company; and

(ii) has the written consent of the minor's parent or legal guardian.