Washington Employing teens under 18 in food service is regulated by the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. According to the L&I Fact Sheet (Youth Employment — Food Service), there are certain types of activities that youth aged 14 to 17 are allowed to do, and certain activities that are prohibited. Permitted Activities: • Cleaning and setting tables • Serving food • Washing dishes • Using kitchen appliances • Cleaning food-preparation areas • Working in a bakery • Preparing salads • Taking orders • Making coffee • Bagging and boxing food • Wrapping takeout orders • Cleaning and stocking shelves Prohibited Activities: • Using power-driven equipment, such as slicers, grinders, and mixers • Operating a deep fryer • Working with dangerous chemicals • Working with hot oil • Working in a freezers or coolers with temperatures below freezing • Working in an area with exposed flames or hot surfaces • Working on ladders or scaffolding • Working in confined spaces • Working with hazardous machinerWorkinalonnénenénnénéne..éne