Citation

Laflamme L, Menckel E. Ann. Pediatr. (Paris) 1999; 46(5): 320-329.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, Societe Edition Assoc, Enseignement Med. Hop De Paris)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The 1991 Swedish Work Environment Act stipulates that all schoolchildren should be regarded in the same way as adult workers and be provided with a safe and healthy work environment. This paper summarizes the scientific and practical data generated by a study of the quality of the physical and psychological environment and the injury risks in Swedish schools. As an introduction, a summary is presented of the scientific evidence accumulated by both Swedish and international studies on the characteristics and determinants of injuries to schoolchildren. The research project involved three phases, of which the first consisted in a questionnaire-based survey of physical/environmental problems and injury risks in schools during the 1995-1996 academic year. The questionnaires were completed by the principals of a sample of schools representative of schools throughout Sweden. The second phase focused on injuries to schoolchildren. A standardized injury data form was created by the research team with the twin goals of providing school occupational health professionals with a tool for collecting information on the characteristics and determinants of injuries to schoolchildren and of creating a registry of injuries to help target future research and intervention efforts conducted at the community and/or national level. The form was used by 79 Swedish schools during the 1996-1997 academic year, and the registry now includes 1 200 injuries. The third phase will deal with means and strategies for interventions aimed at improving school safety. First, the interventions used in schools to improve safety will be reviewed and their potential for reaching their goal will be assessed. Then, the research team will take part in a number of local and regional direct interventions targeting problems identified during the second phase of the research project.