Evaluation of occupational HEALTH and safety awareness of vocational and technical anatolian high school chemistry department students

Undoubtedly, one of the most important tools to reduce work accident and occupational diseases is education. The chemical industry carries risky situations in terms of profession. Giving importance to education in Vocational and Technical High Schools is the first and key step to achieve adequate levels of security at workplaces. Vocational and technical schools contain many dangers in terms of health and safety. As indicated in work accident reports in educational contexts, it can be noted that students in vocational and technical high schools involved in work accidents are often inexperienced individuals in the tasks or don't have enough occupational knowledge. In this regard, it wouldn't be wrong to say that a thorough occupational health and safety (OHS) awareness must be raised and students must be provided with proper work health and safety education. It is important for students to be educated in a healthy environment and culture. Generations that grow up in healthy and safe environments will also be physically and emotionally healthy. Within the scope of the study, it is aimed to analyze the knowledge levels of 11th and 12th grade students studying in the Chemistry Department of Vocational and Technical Anatolian High Schools in Gaziantep province and its districts. In this way, it is aimed to prevent worker deaths, work accidents and occupational diseases by raising awareness by analyzing the occupational health knowledge of the students before they enter the business life. 120 students were reached in the study. A questionnaire prepared with a 5-point Likert type scale with 22 questions was applied. A survey study was conducted and the results were analyzed and evaluated. As a result of the study, it was found that the students' perceptions of job security were 3.03 points out of 5 points, and this means that the job security perceptions of the students were at an average value. Because of the statistical analysis of the data obtained, the factors affecting the work accidents are presented and the suggestions are given for the precautions to be taken to prevent work accidents or to reduce them to minimum levels.