Employee Safety in Child Care Settings

As a childcare worker, you can encounter many risks at your job that could impact your health and safety. Challenges you could face include infectious diseases, injuries, and workplace stress, as well as other hazards. The tips in this article can help you stay healthy and safe while providing essential care and interacting with children at work.

Infectious Diseases

Childcare facilities often require close contact with children and other staff. This can lead to exposure to several types of illnesses, including those that are serious and life-threatening. To help prevent these exposures, you can take the following actions:

• Stay up to date on seasonal and routine vaccinations.
• Educate families on monitoring children for illnesses and keeping them home when they are sick.
• Wear gloves when coming into contact with bodily fluids, assisting with toileting, wiping noses, providing first aid, or handling food.
• Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before and after caregiving, diaper changes, restroom use, food preparation, eating, and before leaving work.
• Teach children how to properly wash their hands.
• Disinfect surfaces and sanitize toys with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-registered products that are safe for childcare settings, following the manufacturer’s instructions when using them. You should also safely and properly launder soft items (e.g., clothing, rugs).
• Wear aprons or smocks to reduce the risks of spreading germs.
• Prevent the sharing of hats and personal items to reduce the risk of transmitting lice and other illnesses.
• Teach children how to properly dispose of their waste (e.g., tissues, band-aids), when appropriate.

Musculoskeletal Injuries

Lifting children and sitting on the ground may often be part of your daily activities. These activities could lead to injuries from muscle strains and sprains, as well as neck, back, and shoulder pain. To mitigate these risks, you should:

• Allow children to use stepstools when they are capable instead of lifting them.
• Use adult-sized furniture when possible.
• Squat or kneel to speak with children at eye level instead of picking them up or hunching over.
• Lift children only when necessary while using proper lifting techniques. This means getting close to the child, keeping your feet shoulder-width apart with one foot slightly in front of the other, bending your knees, tightening your stomach muscles, keeping your back straight, and lifting slowly while avoiding twisting. For infants, position a foot beside them, keep your back straight, and push your hips back. Lower to one knee, slide the infant onto your thigh, then transfer them to the opposite thigh. Support them with both forearms, palms-up, and hold them close. Look forward, keep your chin up, and lift by extending your legs while maintaining a straight back and controlled breathing. Follow the pivot technique if you need to turn after properly lifting an infant (i.e., holding the infant close to your body, turning one of your feet 90 degrees in the direction you plan to move, and bringing your second foot next to the leading foot).
• Properly hold children close to your body and avoid holding them with one arm. Ensure children are not holding objects before lifting them so they do not strike you with the object.
• Reduce reaching by safely using step stools to access items on high shelving.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Childcare settings can present employees with slip, trip, and fall risks. These incidents can cause serious injuries. To help avoid these accidents:

• Wear appropriate slip-resistant footwear.
• Avoid rushing; walk slowly when carrying children or other objects.
• Ensure all rugs and cords are secured and do not create tripping hazards.
• Pick up toys and other scattered items to prevent them from becoming tripping hazards.

Environmental Hazards

Part of your role may involve supervising children outside. Outdoor conditions could expose you to environmental risks. To address these exposures:

• Wear a hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses for protection against ultraviolet rays.
• Stay under shaded areas when outside to avoid heat illness.
• Dress appropriately and know the signs of frostbite and heat stress.

Hazardous Substances

Although hazardous substances should only be present in childcare settings when necessary (e.g., cleaning products), the ones that are there could present health risks. To help prevent exposure to hazardous substances, consider these measures:

• Attend training on any chemicals or hazardous substances that may be present in your workplace and ask questions if any concerns arise.
• Ensure children only use nontoxic, age-appropriate art supplies and toys. Read labels, review the items’ toxicity, and substitute safer products for hazardous ones.
• Ensure proper ventilation when cleaning. Air purifiers can also improve air quality.
• Only store cleaning products in their original containers and be familiar with their Material Safety Data Sheets.
Stress
Working in child care can result in occupational stress, leading to various physical and mental health effects. To mitigate this risk:
• Develop good sleeping habits and ensure you are getting enough rest.
• Eat healthy meals and exercise regularly.
• Avoid taking on too many tasks at once, take breaks, and find time to relax.
• Communicate effectively and know when to seek professional help.

Conclusion

Working in child care can be very rewarding, but it also exposes you to many risks. By being proactive, you can reduce your chances of injury or illness. Contact your supervisor for more information.