Yesterday, a reader posted the following question
Are their any articles available on manual handling risk factors for workers in the childcare service industry (including programs for risk control)?
Below are some of the resources that are readily available in Australia, specifically on childcare. In many cases the control measures employed for nurses overlap but in may OHS advisory and regulatory sites the hazards for nurses dominate the advice.
As an example of the dire need for accessible information in this area, there is a Canadian guide to “Health in Child Care Settings“. It’s over 200 hundred pages with lots of great information. The only mention of manual handling hazards for workers is
“Use of proper lifting and transferring techniques can significantly reduce the risk of injury. Providers’ education in this area is essential.”
Yet we know that the medical evidence for safe lifting techniques is dubious.
There is a commercial DVD available at www.themedia.com.au I would advise that playground equipment should be reviewed for durability AND ease of transport (there are many types of castor wheels with brakes available for heavy items)
There is a training course that includes “Lifting Techniques & Manual Handling for Child Care Workers” available (in Australia – there are many more around the world)
In 2001 the Queensland OHS authority released a guide called “Manual Tasks Involving the Handling of People Advisory Standard 2001“. Again this reads very nurse-y but it specifically includes the handling of children.
Without knowing the background to the question – whether concerned with the handling of children or equipment – it is difficult to go further. Perhaps the reader can provide more detail and we can see if other readers can help with specifics.