Cal. LAB § 1294
This is the official text of Cal. LAB § 1294, part of California’s Labor Code — governs wages, workplace safety, and employee rights.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Official statutory text
No minor under the age of 16 years shall be employed or permitted to work in any capacity:
(a) Upon any railroad, whether steam, electric, or hydraulic.
(b) Upon any vessel or boat engaged in navigation or commerce within the jurisdiction of this state.
(c) In, about, or in connection with any processes in which dangerous or poisonous acids are used, in the manufacture or packing of paints, colors, white or red lead, or in soldering.
(d) In occupations causing dust in injurious quantities, in the manufacture or use of dangerous or poisonous dyes, in the manufacture or preparation of compositions with dangerous or poisonous gases, or in the manufacture or use of compositions of lye in which the quantity thereof is injurious to health.
(e) On scaffolding, in heavy work in the building trades, in any tunnel or excavation, or in, about or in connection with any mine, coal breaker, coke oven or quarry.
(f) In assorting, manufacturing or packing tobacco.
(g) Operating any automobile, motorcar, or truck.
(h) In any occupation dangerous to the life or limb, or injurious to the health or morals of the minor.
(a) Upon any railroad, whether steam, electric, or hydraulic.
(b) Upon any vessel or boat engaged in navigation or commerce within the jurisdiction of this state.
(c) In, about, or in connection with any processes in which dangerous or poisonous acids are used, in the manufacture or packing of paints, colors, white or red lead, or in soldering.
(d) In occupations causing dust in injurious quantities, in the manufacture or use of dangerous or poisonous dyes, in the manufacture or preparation of compositions with dangerous or poisonous gases, or in the manufacture or use of compositions of lye in which the quantity thereof is injurious to health.
(e) On scaffolding, in heavy work in the building trades, in any tunnel or excavation, or in, about or in connection with any mine, coal breaker, coke oven or quarry.
(f) In assorting, manufacturing or packing tobacco.
(g) Operating any automobile, motorcar, or truck.
(h) In any occupation dangerous to the life or limb, or injurious to the health or morals of the minor.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in California?
Find a California lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.