Every year, one in eight apprentices is the victim of an occupational accident

When I got closer, I saw the sheets with the two lifeless bodies underneath." This is how Thomas Schwegler, managing director of an SME, remembers the day he will never forget. An employee and an apprentice lost their lives while doing a job that is part of everyday life at the company. "Before this accident, I could never imagine ever getting into such a situation. And I wish nothing more than that someone had been there to say stop."

High risk

Every year, one in eight apprentices is the victim of an occupational accident. Two even lose their lives each year. The risk of having an accident is almost twice as high for apprentices as for other employees. Several reasons contribute to this: Apprentices are new to the job and new to the company. They are less experienced and often more careless. They overestimate their abilities and do not dare to ask questions. In addition, supervisors do not always behave in an exemplary manner and provide too little instruction. This makes them all the more responsible.

Stop badge as a symbol

Vocational trainers play a central role during the apprenticeship period. They are important confidants and key figures for safety issues. The stop card serves as the basis for a safe apprenticeship period. This is filled out together with the apprentices at the beginning of the apprenticeship period. It symbolizes the right and duty to say stop in case of danger. The learners must then say stop if a vital rule is violated, the work assignment is unclear or they feel unsafe or overwhelmed.

Stop Saying Tips

It is not always easy to say stop and to interrupt the work in case of danger. Apprentices need a lot of courage and self-confidence to do this. It can help if young professionals talk to their supervisors or colleagues from vocational school. Tips from peers on the subject of saying stop encourage them to actually use this in practice. Supervisors should work with learners in advance on how they might respond if someone reacts negatively to stop-saying. If vocational trainers repeatedly encourage their learners to ask questions, this strengthens the self-confidence of the young professionals. After all, they are still in training and are allowed to address uncertainties.

Ten tips for learners

• I comply with the safety rules of the company.
• I always use the personal protective equipment.
• I abide by the vital rules of my profession.
• I do not work with a piece of equipment until I have been instructed to do so.
• I do the work systematically and plan enough time for it.
• I ask when something is unclear.
• I don't get distracted at work.
• I come to work rested.
• I come to work sober.
• I behave in a way that does not injure myself in physical education class.

Source: Suva