Risk perception and compliance shape safety culture differences between technical and social vocational students

Abstract Objective As Industry 4.0 reshapes the labor market, the concept of occupational risk has evolved from purely physical hazards to complex psychosocial and ergonomic challenges. This study aims to evaluate the safety culture perception levels of vocational school students and to investigate the “interdisciplinary gap” between Technical and Social programs regarding the tangibility of risk. Method Employing a retrospective cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from a stratified random sample of 420 students (210 Technical, 210 Social) enrolled at Istanbul Beykent University Vocational School during the Fall Semester of the 2025–2026 Academic Year. The “Occupational Health and Safety Competence Perception Scale” developed by Kocaay (Yükseköğretim Kurulu Ulusal Tez Merkezi, 2020) was utilized to measure students’ risk perception, safety compliance, and safety communication. Results The analysis revealed a significant interdisciplinary dissociation. Technical students scored significantly higher in “Risk Perception” (X̄ = 4.28) and “Safety Compliance” (X̄ = 4.30). Conversely, Social students exhibited a distinct “Knowledge-Attitude Gap,” demonstrating moderate theoretical communication but alarmingly low behavioral compliance (X̄ = 2.90). Furthermore, female students demonstrated significantly higher safety rule compliance than male students ( p < .05). Conclusion The findings suggest that the tangible nature of technical risks may facilitate better internalization, whereas social students often perceive office-based risks as “invisible” or distant. To bridge this gap, a paradigm shift from a uniform curriculum to a sector-specific, simulation-based OHS education integrating “Risk Science” principles is strongly recommended.