Unexpected events: learning opportunities or injury risks for apprentices in low-skilled jobs? A pilot study

Inexperienced workers are more prone to experience occupational injuries. By definition, a work accident is a sudden or unforeseen event that contributes to an injury. This pilot study aimed to understand the relationship between unforeseen events, their contributing factors, the responses to these events, and the injury risks among young apprentices. Nine apprentices (15-17 yr old) in different companies were videotaped whilst doing normal work tasks (total 79.5 h). Unforeseen events were described according to an observation grid constructed for this study; the following variables were characterized: unforeseen events, immediate contributing factors, strategies (individual vs. collective) and injury risk. All unexpected events observed by trained raters were coded (n = 554). Simple logistic regressions were made to determine the odd of being at risk of injury. The variable "activity sector" was used as control. Falling/dropping object (25.5%) is the most prevalent unexpected event (UE). The most important contributing factor is related to Material/products (44.1%), and Individual strategies were most frequently used by apprentices (81.5%). However, regressions showed that UE related to Handling and Equipment are the most associated with injury risks. Collective strategies to manage UE seem to have a protective role. This study illustrates the duality associated with unexpected event: the potential of those events to develop competencies or the risk of injury associated. Some implications for schools, decision-makers and employer are discussed. Language: en