While I employed these kids I ran into the dilemma that my 14 and 15 year old kids couldn't cut up a banana for my store's "banana split" product. A simple kitchen knife they had used at home for years was off limits under the law at my ice cream shop. The kids thought it was ridiculous and in a way it was, but how do you write a law that protects kids from having to use a sharp knife to peel potatoes over and over constantly all day at work, where the risk of injury is quite high, and still LET them use a knife in a low risk environment like my little ice cream shop?  I had a 15 year old employee that begged me to let him use the little knife, days before he turned 16. I had to say no because it was illegal and a few days later when he turned 16 and could finally use that knife he picked it up and looked at me and said "Oh yeah cause I'm so much safer and mature NOW!"