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Every year, nearly 75,000 young people choose to become apprentices. Yet apprentices are victims of 25,000 occupational injuries, two of which are fatal. For them, everything is new. Information and training therefore play a key role.
About 40% of these accidents occur in the course of conventional manual work – drilling, grinding and sanding – or machine work – milling and turning. Apprentices are often hit by foreign objects (e.g. chips or shavings), cut or scratched. Everything is new for them. They are not used to using tools and machines. In addition, many underestimate the dangers or overestimate their abilities. In addition, many accidents occur because apprentices do not dare to ask questions when they are in doubt. Trainers, supervisors, but also employees therefore assume a central role: to serve as examples and familiarize apprentices with the company’s safety culture.
In 2012, Suva launched the “Safe apprenticeship” campaign for apprentices, companies and vocational schools. By providing them with free training documents, guides, posters, checklists and various other materials, it makes them aware of the dangers of everyday work. Another important prevention tool is the experimentation course. The eight stations allow the trainees to learn from their own experience how quickly accidents can happen and what to do to prevent them.
To find out more (in French)
