Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/preventing-work-related-musculoskeletal-injuries/5014050/
Common sense tells us that happy healthy employees are more productive in the workplace. In the child care environment, employee productivity directly affects our children. Although researchers have studied the health and epidemiology of illness among children in out-of-home day care, few have examined the occupational health of caregivers. Just like any workplace, there are environmental and occupational hazards in a child care center. Ideally, we want to minimize the hazards and maximize the opportunities to ensure the health and safety of the employees.Ergonomics for Child Care
Ergonomics is the scientific study of fitting a job to an individual. This science can, and should, be applied to the child care setting. Musculoskeletal injuries are relatively high among child care providers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that one of every 100 child care workers suffered a nonfatal occupational injury in 1999 (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Working as a child care provider can be a physically demanding job. It requires constant interaction with active (sometimes hyperactive), spontaneous, impulsive, heavy (sometimes very heavy) children. Lifting, stooping, bending, climbing, crawling, reaching, pulling, and pushing are just some of the strenuous activities required. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, back injury is ...