A View on Occupational Hazards and Preventive Culture of University Students: a Research Project by the Pablo de Olavide University

Abstract

This paper presents the results of a research project on students’ training, perception, and attitudes toward the prevention of occupational hazards at the University Pablo de Olavide. The study was developed from a questionnaire ad hoc that was filled in by 525 students from several different degrees. Descriptive analyses were done (percentage, average and standard deviation), correlatives (Phi correlative coefficient and contingency coefficient) and hypothesis contrasts through the non-parametric Mann- Whitney's U test for two independent samples. The research shows a high degree of consensus among students regarding the importance of integrating the topic of occupational hazard prevention in the University at all levels, although this perception decreases among those who do not have working experience yet. Those who have had no contact with the labour force are those who relate the most amount of accidents to fortuity, instead of relating them to a technical-preventive concept of safety, which confirms the need to intervene in the education and training of this group of future professionals.