Occupational Safety and Health in Schools: Analysis of Education Systems

This paper reports the findings of research funded by the Occupational Health and Safety Office (Andalusian Department of Employment) and the University of Granada in cooperation with the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (Spanish Ministry of Labour and Immigration) and the Andalusian School of Public Health (Andalusian Department of Health). The study looks at education strategies designed to prepare students and teachers to cope successfully with risk factors and improve the quality of kindergarten, primary and secondary school teaching by examining the channels through which practical training in occupational risk prevention is provided in schools. The authors discuss experiences and achievements in occupational risk (OR) prevention with an eye to revealing the extent of OR problems in education, determining the current status of schools as OR prevention training centres, establishing guidelines to clarify educational and organizational action aimed at facilitating the prevention teaching/learning process, and identifying components and features of training to prevent occupational risks in schools. The sample is drawn from a comparison of documents and materials from the European Union and Spain on occupational risk prevention as applied in the field of education (qualitative research). Analysis of education systems will help to develop activities to teach prevention in schools, based on information extracted from the comparative approach. Strategies can then be proposed, and work can be started to make school a safe, healthy place.