Safety Is Not Just For Children Ouch! How workers are injured in child care services Child care workers are at high risk of workplace injury due to the very physical nature of the job. On a daily basis most child care workers lift children, bend to sit at child sized tables and chairs, deal with clutter underfoot and move heavy playground equipment. According to WorkSafe Victoria the physical toll of undertaking these tasks daily can lead to painful and debilitating injuries. Victorian workplace injury statistics reveal that 70 per cent of these injuries are 'musculoskeletal' in nature, such as sprains and strains, affecting the back, knees, neck and arms. It is also believed that many more injuries go unreported by people who accept injuries as 'just part of the job'. In a campaign designed to raise awareness about this issue WorkSafe Victoria is currently focusing on safety in child care centres and kindergartens. This includes exploring new ways to help these facilities become safer workplaces and reinforcing legal workplace safety requirements. Workplace Safety Rules All Victorian workplaces have a range of obligations to workers and workplace visitors under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act. To help raise awareness of the important role of workplace safety in the sector, WorkSafe Victoria has funded a three-year project to promote the importance of staff health and safety in children's services. OHS Project Co-ordinator at Kindergarten Parents Victoria, Zora Marko (zmarko@kpv.org.au) has been appointed to spear head this project, to highlight staff health and wellbeing and to provide advice for reducing the common hazards causing injuries in children's services. Occupational Health and Safety Audits OH&S Consultant, Trainer and Assessor with the Australian Institute of Education and Training, Carl Davis says the most common safety issues in child care centres and kindergartens include manual handling, poor office environments, poor storage, unsafe ladders and stress. "Staff do a fantastic job but occasionally take risks to get the job done. Children's areas are almost always very safe. It is the staff areas that are the problem," he says. Safety audits can help you identify areas where you may be able to improve work practices at your centre. To find out if your child care service is eligible for a free OHS audit contact Laura Mondon at VCOSS on (03) 9654 5050 or visit the VCOSS website. Ouch! How workers are injured in child care centres and kindergartens. These are the six most common causes of injuries and poor health in child care centres: Lifting and moving children in and out of cots and on and off change tables among others. If sleeping and change areas are not properly designed, the risk increases. Sitting and working at low levels puts extra strain on backs and knees. Moving play equipment and furniture is required in order to maintain a stimulating environment for children – but much of this equipment is unnecessarily heavy and awkwardly designed. Inadequate storage areas without walk through space and cluttered with 'accidents waiting to happen'. Poor office ergonomics. Office workstations are often in cramped spaces and poorly equipped. Poor housekeeping/maintenance of indoor and outdoor areas, such as trips on uneven or damaged floor surfaces, of falling off tables/chairs when hanging artwork .

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