Workplace Health & Safety Training

Hazards in the child care industry

  • Lifting and carrying children and the equipment used in child care workplaces may lead to manual handling injuries such as sprains and strains. The activities undertaken by child care workers and volunteers should be assessed and modified if possible to reduce repetitive lifting and minimise the risk of injury.

  • Floors and the surfaces of pathways, steps and ramps inside and outside child care workplaces should be slip resistant, especially around wet areas such as bathrooms and toilets.

    The risk of slips, trips and falls can also be reduced by good housekeeping, keeping walkways clear of toys and other loose items and by ensuring that spills are cleaned up promptly

  • In situations where portable items of electric equipment, such as vacuum cleaners, electric frypans, portable stereos and CD players are used, electric circuits should be protected by Residual Current Devices (RCDs) to reduce the risk of electrocution.

    Power cords and extension leads should be protected from damage by toys and equipment, chemicals and heat. It is a good idea to check cords and leads for nicks, cuts and other damage on a regular basis and to immediately remove a damaged item until it is properly repaired.

    A licensed electrical contractor should always be used for repairs to electrical equipment and electrical installations at workplaces.

    Children should not be left unsupervised in situations where they may cut electric cords, spill water onto electric equipment or pull cords and leads out of a power point.

    Unused power points should be covered with blank plugs to ensure that children do not poke small items into the empty holes.

  • It is important that all chemicals are stored in locked cupboards or storerooms away from children. Everyone who uses the chemicals for work should be trained in procedures that ensure the chemicals are returned and locked away immediately after use. Supervision of staff members and volunteers should ensure that the procedures are followed. There are legal requirements for the provision of information and for adequate instruction, training and supervision in the use of cleaning products and other chemicals.

    There are also requirements for child care workplaces to have a register of hazardous substances and a copy of the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDSs) for each hazardous substance at the workplace and to reduce the risk of injury or harm that may occur by following the safety instructions on the label and in the MSDS for the product.

  • All linen or clothing soiled with blood or body fluids should be treated as potentially infectious and placed in a plastic bag that is clearly marked. The plastic bag may then be placed in the standard linen laundry bag or taken home by parents for washing. It is not necessary to use disposable linen in child care workplaces. Washing linen in hot water usually destroys germs that may cause infection.

  • Sandpits may become contaminated with urine and faeces from children or from animals. It is sometimes difficult to detect when young children have urinated in a sandpit, especially when they are also playing with water.

    Check sandpits regularly and ensure that they are kept clean. If the sand smells offensive, do not allow children to play in the sand until it is replaced.

    Sandpits should be kept covered overnight or when not in use to keep animals out. Cats, in particular, are attracted to the soft sand for their toileting activities.