The article title focuses on the school-based work program, but that was just giving him credit for the job he already had.

Derrik had worked at Rotschy, a large construction company in southwestern Washington, for about nine months prior to his injury, and had recently joined a school program that allowed him to earn class credit for hours on the job.

The real problem was the company ignoring safety regulation.

Rotschy, which routinely hired teenage workers amid recent labor shortages, violated the law when supervisors assigned tasks known to be dangerous and prohibited for minors to perform. The Battle Ground School District, where Derrik attended, did not conduct an initial site inspection as required by the program. The state Department of Labor & Industries and school district officials disagree on who bears responsibility for ongoing safety monitoring.

The school was also wrong to not conduct an initial site inspection, although my guess is that the company wouldn’t have the kids doing the illegal stuff during the inspection. So the school was also wrong, but not nearly at the same level as the company.

Nevermind, everyone totally fucked up.

The state Department of Labor & Industries and school district officials disagree on who bears responsibility for ongoing safety monitoring.

L&I later issued significant fines against Rotschy for the incident, but has for years approved special “variances” for the company to hire minors despite its history of serious safety violations. And local school officials continued to promote the company’s work program — including after Derrik’s injury.

The headline should be ‘WA teen loses legs because a company, the school, and the Department of Labor and Industry all fucked up and continue to do so.’