Children's services

Hazards and Solutions

1. Hazard 1 Bending kneeling and squatting

   • Provide height-adjustable change tables with steps for children able to walk up stairs.
   • In the absence of change table, provide a padded surface for employees to kneel on.
   • Provide appropriate furniture for adults (eg a height-adjustable office chair that can be lowered to engage with children).
2. Hazard 2 Disease

   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures to ensure good hygiene (eg hand-washing).
   • Seek medical advice in vaccinations if applicable.
3. Hazard 3 Lifting and moving children and equipment

   • Provide appropriate aids and equipment (eg height-adjustable change tables, cots with a higher working base, height-adjustable highchairs with removable trays, height-adjustable trolleys for shifting goods in and out of vehicles, wheeled trolleys or frames for laundry bags) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
   • Ensure large, bulky or awkward objects can be easily moved (eg fit sandpit covers and playground equipment with large castors or wheels, use wheeled trolleys or frames for laundry bags, and height-adjustable trolleys for shifting goods in and out of vehicles).
   • Provide appropriate steps that are scaled appropriately for children and designed to Australian Standards (eg steps feature hand-holds, runners, rollers and stops, and have fall protection for the child).
   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for lifting and moving children and equipment (eg only non-walking children should be lifted).
   • Train employees in the selection and use of any aids and equipment and safe handling methods (eg hold child's hand when ascending steps).
4. Hazard 4 Storing equipment materials and toys

   • Position storage / shelves between shoulder and knee height or provide step stools or ladders, preferably with hand-rails, to access stored objects without over-reaching.
   • Position dryers and washing machines so they can be loaded between shoulder and mid-thigh height.
5. Hazard 5 Work-related stress bullying and harassment

   • Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for workplace bullying and harassment.
   • Encourage a positive workplace culture, including reporting of bullying and harassment.
   • Ensure all employees understand what bullying and harassment is, and the procedures for reporting incidents (eg policies and procedures should be promoted during employee induction and workplace bullying prevention or training).
   • Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling / support services, where possible.
   • Encourage employees to report any workplace stress factors (eg work demand, low control, poor support, lack of role clarity, organisational culture) and control appropriately.
6. Hazard 6 Working in the kitchen

   • Provide appropriate mechanical aids (eg food processors and electric can openers) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
   • Consider purchasing prepared food (eg sliced cheese and diced meat).
   • Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.