Working at low levels in early childhood education and care
A guide to managing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries (eg sprains, strains, fractures and soft tissue injuries) from working at low levels in children’s services.
Download this fact sheet (PDF, 301.11 KB)
What is the problem?
Workers experience musculoskeletal injuries (eg sprains, strains, fractures and soft tissue injuries) from working at low levels in children’s services.
Working at low levels includes working at floor level, crouching, kneeling or sitting on children’s furniture. It is acknowledged that working at low levels may be necessary for engaging with children.
Organisations are encouraged to discuss how tasks at low levels are undertaken so the worker’s and children’s needs are addressed safely.
What are the risks?
Workers may be at risk of injuries from:
- Awkward postures due to sitting on children’s furniture or the floor.
- Awkward postures due to crouching or kneeling at floor level.
- Tripping or falling due to raising or lowering the body to/from low levels.
- No adult-sized seating options being available.
- Working at low levels for long durations.
Workers sitting on children’s furniture and the floor to work at low levels.
What are solutions to the problems?
Systems
Develop systems of work that reduce tasks completed at low levels.
For tasks completed at low levels:
- provide a surface to cushion the point of contact between the worker’s body and the floor
- limit the duration the task is conducted for
- rotate the task to limit worker’s exposure to risks.
Provide workers with information, instruction and supervision on documented work procedures and use of equipment and aids.
Provide reporting processes so safety issues can be identified and fixed as soon as possible.
Schedule and record regular inspections and maintenance of all areas of the workplace and equipment.
Equipment
Provide adult sized chairs that are adjustable for seat height, backrest height and tilt. For example:
- use adult-sized chairs that can be raised and lowered beyond the usual lowering range to ensure workers can sit in a supported posture while engaging with children at eye level
- check whether castors or glides should be chosen. This depends on the task the chair is required for and whether the chair is permanently located in an area or wheeled in and out as required. As a general principle:
- chairs with glides should not be considered mobile or carried in and out of areas for use
- chairs with castors can be moved easily with brake options to prevent movement
- any administrative procedure implemented to control risks (eg the implementation of brakes if required) will rely on appropriate instruction, training and supervision.
Provide children’s chairs that are higher and matched to the age/size of children.
Provide additional seating options for workers (eg adult-sized chairs, reading chairs or couches).
Include features in outdoor play areas for workers to sit on as an alternative to squatting, crouching or sitting at ground level.
Adult-sized chair that can be adjusted, raised and lowered to enable the worker to sit in a supported posture while working at low levels.
Further information
SafeWork NSW resources
- Using cots, highchairs and change tables in early childhood education and care
- Moving equipment in early childhood education and care
- Storing supplies and equipment in early childhood education and care
- Conducting administrative tasks in early childhood education and care
- Maintaining indoor and outdoor areas in early childhood education and care
SafeWork NSW general publications
- Hazardous manual tasks: Code of practice (PDF, 1499.23 KB)
- Hazardous manual tasks
- Hazardous manual tasks overview fact sheet (PDF, 8034.42 KB)
- Healthcare and social assistance industry
Australian Standards
AS/NZS 4438:1997, Height adjustable swivel chairs
General notice
The information presented in this factsheet is intended for general use only. Every effort has been made to ensure this information is complete and accurate. The advice contained may not apply in every circumstance. SafeWork NSW cannot be held responsible, and extends no warranties as to the suitability of the information for your specific circumstances; or actions taken by third parties as a result of information contained in the factsheet.
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This guidance material is WorkSafe Victoria copyright material which may not be reproduced or used without express written permission from WorkSafe Victoria. WorkSafe Victoria is not liable and does not take any responsibility whatsoever for, or for reliance on, information contained in this guidance material.