Investigating the level of education in the field of occupational safety and health in preparation for future profession: a Slovak case study.

Introduction: This article presents a critical overview of education in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH) among pupils, along with the perspectives of secondary school teachers in the Slovak Republic. It outlines the contextual background, identifies key challenges, and defines the scientific approach to the issue, with particular attention to the specific conditions of OSH education in Slovakia. Methods: To evaluate the quality of OSH training within the dual education system, a questionnaire survey was conducted among teachers and pupils. A stratified sampling method was applied, and responses were collected anonymously. The sample consisted of 374 pupils (35% female, 65% male), aged 15-19, and 90 teachers (40% female, 60% male). Results: The findings revealed several significant issues. Pupils reported insufficient explanations of alcohol testing procedures, with differences observed across study programmes (ranked: hotel services, business services, technical and information technology services). Both teachers and pupils expressed generally neutral attitudes toward engagement in training. However, multiple comparisons across items and factor combinations indicated a lower level of proficiency in risk analysis training. Statistically significant differences were also identified in relation to position, gender, experience, and study programme. Discussion: The results highlight gaps in the effectiveness of OSH training within the Slovak dual education system, particularly in risk analysis competencies and clarity of procedural instruction. These findings suggest the need for targeted improvements in training content and delivery, taking into account demographic and educational differences among participants.