Gender differences in occupational health and safety perceptions: Insights from youth in dual vocational training

Abstract

Introduction: While occupational health and safety (OHS) education is important for all new workers, it appears critical for youth in dual vocational training programs. To develop prevention tools adapted to their situation, the first stage of an action-research study was to question their perceptions and experiences of OHS. Objective: This study examines the perceptions of OHS among young students with disabilities enrolled in the Work-Oriented Training Path (WOTP) in Québec. Method: A mixed-methods study based on questionnaires given to 131 (38 women, 93 men) WOTP students and Ministry documents. Descriptive and comparative quantitative analyses were conducted with a qualitative analysis of open-ended questions and documents. A gender-sensitive analysis was carried out since it is a recognized influencing factor to consider in OHS. Results: Men and women worked in different environments (p = 0.002). Men seem to be more aware of the presence of hazards (yes = 79.6 %) than women (yes = 50 %) (p = 0.001), and collectively named 15 risk categories, compared to 9 for women. A modest proportion of men (yes = 44.1 %) and women (yes = 31.6 %) reported having received OHS training in their traineeship. Men had a slightly less marked interest in OHS (p = 0.047). A large proportion of students reported having experienced an occupational injury (43.5 %). Conclusions: Targeted interventions are needed to ensure safe learning environments and equitable OHS training for youth with disabilities. Women might be confronted with unrecognized or invisible hazards, and all could benefit from a training that addresses those. © 2025 The Author(s)

Keywords

Author Keywords

Vocational training youth Disabilities Sex and gender Occupational health and safety

Index Keywords

Personnel training adult female human male medical education questionnaire Risk assessment adolescent apprenticeship Article learning environment occupational health Apprentices Students Vocational education Vocational training controlled study work environment disability major clinical study qualitative analysis sex difference open ended questionnaire descriptive research safety Occupational health and safety Sex and gender Quebec quantitative analysis student attitude cohort analysis Gender-differences Health perceptions Health trainings Safety training Training paths Youth hazard assessment occupational accident sensitivity analysis

Author Affiliations

School of Rehabilitation, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada, CHU Sainte-Justine - Le Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Mère-Enfant, Montreal, QC, Canada

Department of Education and Specialized Training, Université du Québec à Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada

Funding & Acknowledgements

Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve, IRSST

Grant: 2018-0001

Funding text 1: The authors express gratitude to the partners and participants. Special thanks to Jena Webb for judicious comments and Aur\u00E9lie Tondoux for coordinating the project. This study was funded by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve\u0301 en sante\u0301 et s\u00E9curite\u0301 du travail (IRSST) (#2018-0001) and the Canada Research Chair in Adolescent Work Disability Prevention. The first author received financial support from FRQ-SC (310683).; Funding text 2: This study was funded by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve\u0301 en sante\u0301 et s\u00E9curite\u0301 du travail (IRSST), Qu\u00E9bec, Canada / (#2018-0001). The first author received financial support from FRQ -SC ( 310683 ).

Fonds de recherche du Québec, FRQ

Grant: 310683

Funding text 1: The authors express gratitude to the partners and participants. Special thanks to Jena Webb for judicious comments and Aur\u00E9lie Tondoux for coordinating the project. This study was funded by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve\u0301 en sante\u0301 et s\u00E9curite\u0301 du travail (IRSST) (#2018-0001) and the Canada Research Chair in Adolescent Work Disability Prevention. The first author received financial support from FRQ-SC (310683).; Funding text 2: This study was funded by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauve\u0301 en sante\u0301 et s\u00E9curite\u0301 du travail (IRSST), Qu\u00E9bec, Canada / (#2018-0001). The first author received financial support from FRQ -SC ( 310683 ).

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Gender differences in occupational health and safety perceptions: Insights from youth in dual vocational training

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