Health and health-related problems in a cohort of apprentices in Switzerland

Out of a cohort of 1200 apprentices in Switzerland, 781 boys and 417 girls completed a questionnaire on their perceived health and health problems in their selected apprenticeship. Each participant was interviewed afterwards by the school nurses in three state-owned professional schools where the apprentices attended their classes. Ninety-five per cent of the respondents enjoyed excellent health, 28 cases had nervous system or psychological problems, 17 cases had problems of a locomotor nature, 12 subjects had gastrointestinal or endocrinological symptoms, and there was one with a past history of a malignant disease. Twelve cases also had respiratory symptoms or diagnoses. One hundred and nineteen apprentices reported that they had been troubled by the workplace. Exposure to solvents, chemicals in general, dust, smoke and noise were often mentioned as causes. Thirty-eight of them had contacted their family physician in connection with these problems. The cohort had experienced, mostly during their first year, 191 cases of accident necessitating medical care. Cuts, shocks and falls were the most common occurrences. Meat cutters and butchers had the highest frequency of accidents. Near-accidents had been experienced so far by 46 per cent of the respondents. At the interviews, school nurses provided counsel and intervened in flagrant cases of occupational risks. It seems that an ordinary medical certificate does not predict accident-proneness or possible medical problems, while in-school health programmes could provide rapid intervention and support.