Active learning and sector-specific simulations mitigate the first-month injury risk in young workers.

Introduction: Occupational health and safety education is a critical preventive strategy for mitigating workplace accidents, particularly among young workers who face disproportionate risks during their transition from school to work. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of current educational interventions and analyze sectoral accident patterns to inform curriculum development. Methods: A systematic review was conducted synthesizing data from 32 international studies published between 2004 and 2025. The study employed a mixed-methods design, integrating quantitative accident statistics with qualitative assessments of pedagogical models to correlate training methods with safety outcomes. Results: The analysis reveals that active learning methods significantly improve safety motivation and internal locus of control compared to traditional passive instruction. Crucially, accident data identifies a "first-month vulnerability," with up to 67% of injuries in vocational settings occurring within the initial weeks of employment. Furthermore, sectoral comparisons demonstrate that generic safety curricula fail to address specific lethal risks, such as falls in construction or transport-related injuries in healthcare. Discussion: Current vocational training models are insufficient for ensuring early-career safety. Sustainable injury prevention requires a paradigm shift in curricula from generic compliance rules to sector-specific simulations and mandatory transition phases that mimic real-world workplace pressures.