Workplace health and safety policy.
How we maintain a safe and healthy environment for staff, children, families, and visitors across our centres.
Aim: To ensure that the centre’s management and staff co-operate so that the health, physical and mental wellbeing of all employees is promoted and not endangered by their working in the centre, and that visitors to the centre are not put at risk by unsafe conditions in the centre.
To ensure that the centre complies with all relevant legislation, that is:
Work Health and Safety Act 2011
Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011
Smoke-Free Environment Regulation 2007
Smoke-Free Environment Act 2000
Workers Compensation Act 1987
Workplace Injury Management and Workers Compensation Act 1998
Workers Compensation Regulation 2010
To ensure that management and staff are well trained in workplace health and safety matters.
To ensure staff receive all entitlements due under workers compensation.
To ensure that staff, children, and visitors are protected from the dangers of passive smoking, by having a non-smoking policy in the centre.
Explanation: The Work Health and Safety Act 2011 lays down general requirements which must be met by all workplaces.
Prevention is the main strategy to ensure workplace health and safety.
Staff who are healthy and work in a safe environment are able to give children better quality care.
When staff are trained and aware of illness and workplace health and safety matters, it is more likely that the centre will be a safe environment for staff, children, and visitors.
Facilities
Nappy change tables will be at a height so that babies can be changed without an educator having to bend over. There should be moveable steps so that toddlers can climb onto change tables with assistance from educators.
Cots should have drop sides, and moveable steps available for toddlers to climb into the cot with assistance from educators.
Beds should be lightweight and stackable with washable mattresses.
Shelving, filing cabinets and storage cupboards should be at a suitable height so that staff do not have to stretch to reach them.
Mechanical aids such as ladders and trolleys should be available to minimise lifting and stretching.
There should be adult size tables for staff to work at, and adult size chairs for staff to sit on.
The centre should be adequately ventilated to avoid symptoms such as headaches, tiredness, and irritability.
Windows should be kept clean and allow adequate light. Lighting should be supplemented with lights or lamps where necessary and be located to avoid reflections and glare.
Practice:Approved Provider/Management Committee responsibilities
The Approved Provider/management committee will abide by its legal responsibilities under the Work Health and Safety Act, 2011 to:
Provide and maintain equipment and systems of work that are safe and without risk to health.
Ensure that equipment and substances are used, stored, and transported safely and without risk to employees.
Ensure effective WH&S information, instruction, training, and supervision is provided to all employees, to increase their personal understanding of workplace hazards and the need to follow safe work practices, and to facilitate the identification of unsafe workplace practices.
Maintain safe places of work, including entrances and exits.
Provide information about research on and tests of substances used at work.
Provide for adequate disposal of contaminated waste.
Ensure that WH&S issues are discussed at each staff meeting developing staff awareness and knowledge.
Employee responsibilities
Employees must co-operate with their employers attempts to meet their legal responsibilities in health, welfare, and safety matters by taking reasonable care of the health and safety of others and be careful not to misuse equipment or substances provided for the health safety and welfare of others.
Employees must be aware of this policy and follow guidelines on reporting, assessing and rectifying risks which is outlined in our WH&S reporting procedure for staff.
Safe work environment
There should be a workplace health and safety representative from each centre who consults regularly with staff and management and seeks input from parents.
The workplace health and safety officer and/or the director will thoroughly assess the work environment and current work practices and make any recommendations to the Approved provider/management committee in regard to the safety of the centres premises and grounds.
The director will ensure that this initial assessment of the centres premises is made and that monthly maintenance safety checks are conducted in the centre.
The illness and injury register will be checked to identify risks, as part of the regular safety audit.
Storage will be rearranged so that it is easier and safer to remove and replace objects.
Staff will be entitled to request a visit from a Workcover inspector to assess whether the workplace meets legal requirements.
When faults or hazards are detected they will be rectified immediately or if minor, by an agreed time.
When purchasing beds or equipment choose those that are more easily moveable.
Smoking will be prohibited in the childcare centre and its grounds.
Safe work practices
The workplace health and safety representative and/or the director will conduct a thorough assessment of work practices, particularly in regard to back care and manual handling practices, use and storage of chemicals within the centre and its grounds, and specify the practices which will be adopted by staff in the centre, referring to the actual facilities and equipment in the centre.
Manual Handling and Back Care
Remember:
Manual handling means any activity requiring the use of force exerted by the person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, or otherwise move, hold, or restrain any person or object.
Manual handling injuries may be caused by the above activities listed above. Injuries can include back strains, similar strains, and sprains in parts of the body such as the neck, arm, shoulder, and knee.
Manual handling injuries also encompass overuse injuries or, as a result of falling during manual handling, bruising or laceration.
Recommendations:
As working with children is physically demanding, it is wise to do warm-up exercises for three to five minutes before starting work. This is particularly important during cold periods as muscles and tendons are more likely to be damaged when cold. Simple exercises to warm and stretch all the major muscle groups will help prevent injury.
In addition, regular exercise such as walking, tennis, golf, or aerobics, will help build up muscles but anyone with neck, back or muscular problems should see a doctor before exercising.
To help prevent injuries, there are legal requirements for manual handling in the workplace.
The employer, in consultation with staff will:
Provide training in Manual Handling and Back Care as required.
Display in the staff room written information regarding manual handling and any updates as required.
Make sure that equipment and containers are designed and maintained to be, as far as workable, safe and without risk to health and safety when manually handled.
Make sure that the work practices involving manual handling and the work environment are designed to be, as far as workable, consistent with safe manual handling activities.
Identify, assess, and control all risks associated with manual handling in each workplace.
Clearly mark any equipment which requires more than one person to lift or move it.
Principles of Preventing Manual Handling Injuries:
Eliminate or reduce the amount of manual handling.
Reduce the amount of bending, forward reaching, and twisting, in all tasks.
Reduce worker fatigue.
Keep all equipment in good working order.
Keep the workplace environment safe.
To help prevent manual handling injuries:
Kneel down rather than bend down.
For example, helping a child to put their shoes on.
Sit down rather than bend.
For example, if a child needs comforting, sit down on the floor, and encourage the child to sit on your lap.
Sit in an appropriately sized chair or on the floor.
A suitable chair allows an adult to sit with upper legs horizontal to hips and feet flat on the floor.
Carry children only when necessary.
The correct way to carry a child is with one arm under the child’s buttocks and the other arm supporting the child’s back. At the same time, hold the child facing you, as close to your body as possible.
Adults should try to avoid carrying a child on their hip because this can strain the back.
When lifting awkward loads, be careful to lift with a balanced and comfortable posture.
Minimise the need to reach above shoulder level.
If necessary use a step ladder.
Avoid extended reaching forward,
For example, leaning into low equipment boxes.
Share the load if the equipment is heavy, long, or awkward.
To lift a child out of a cot, lean against the cot and raise the child as close as possible to your body. Do not stretch over and lift.
When sliding, pulling, or pushing equipment that is not easy to move, e.g., trestles or gym mats, ask for help and organise a team lift.
Where possible, rearrange surroundings to meet the needs of both children and adults. Remember these needs when buying furniture and equipment or upgrading facilities.
Use equipment and furniture that can be moved around as safely and easily as possible.
To complete lengthy writing tasks, e.g., program planning, sit at an appropriate adult sized chair at an adult sized table.
Larger children to climb up steps/ladder provided to change table with support and assistance from educators.
AVOID TWISTING WHILE LIFTING
Many injuries result from twisting while lifting. To avoid this:
Move equipment when children are not around.
Rearrange storage so that it is easier and safer to replace and remove items.
Lift only within the limits of your strength.
Use beds and equipment that are easy to move.
Make sure you can see where you are going when carrying equipment or children.
Be especially careful when lifting a child with special needs.
Avoid Accidents with Careful Housekeeping
Good housekeeping means fewer accidents. Check that:
The floors and other walking surfaces are uncluttered, even, and non-slippery.
The workplace is tidy.
There is adequate space to perform each task.
Equipment is maintained regularly.
Lighting is adequate.
How to Lift Safely
Place your feet in a stride position.
Keep your breastbone as elevated as possible.
Bend your knees.
Brace your stomach muscles.
Hold the object close to your centre of gravity, i.e., around your navel.
Move your feet not your spine.
Prepare to move in a forward-facing direction.
Ask for help when it is not possible to lift on your own.
How to Organise a Team Lift
Ask a colleague who is willing and able to help.
Ideally the colleague should be fairly well matched with you in size and strength.
Agree on a plan of action.
A coordinated movement during a lift is important.
Timing is important for co-ordination.
One person should act as a team leader and ‘call’ the lift.
How to Assess the Correct Storage and Shelving Height
Correct storage and shelving height are important to prevent slips, falls and strains:
To check the height at which it is safest for each individual to work, stand with feet together and hands by sides:
The best height range for handling loads is around waist level.
The acceptable height for lifting is any point between the individual’s knuckle and shoulder.
Seldom-used objects can be stored at the shoulder-to-raised arm height (use ladders to avoid stretching).
Avoid storing objects at a level between an individual’s knuckles and the floor.
Mechanical aids such as ladders and trolleys should be used where possible to avoid lifting.
Safe Lifting Procedure
Staff will never twist while lifting.
Educator Wellbeing
As an educator your wellbeing is important. Looking after your wellbeing puts you in a better position to support others in your care. Eikoh Seminar Australia is supportive of educators maintaining their wellbeing and provides assistance with this to educators as they need it through the use of our Employee Assistance Program (EAP). EAP Assist supports employees wellbeing with confidential phone counselling throughout Australia and overseas. The aim of counselling is to help resolve both workplace and personal issues before they adversely impact an employee’s mental health and workplace performance. Contact information for our EAP is available through our staff information pack and within the centre. The EAP Assist website also contains a number of resources which all employees can access at https://eapassist.com.au Educators can also find information about supporting their mental health and wellbeing at the BeYou website https://beyou.edu.au
Managing Staff Stress
The Approved provider/management committee will monitor the levels of stress reported by staff in the centre and take positive steps to understand and alleviate the stress suffered by individual staff members acknowledging that stress levels differ for each person.
The workplace health and safety committee or director in conjunction with the Approved provider/management committee will assess situations which cause stress, e.g.:
low ratios of staff to children
length of shifts and length of breaks away from children throughout the day
lack of preparation time
unrealistic rosters and workloads
communication problems within the centre, between staff and with parents
inadequate policies for relief staff
lack of recreation leave
lack of staff development policies
low salaries
undervaluing of the importance of the role of early childhood educators and their professional status
high noise levels
badly designed environment and equipment
The Approved provider/management committee will be responsible for carrying out measures to prevent stress arising in the centre, such as:
including staff in determining changes in the running of the centre, so that staff willingness and commitment to change is greater than if change is imposed upon them without discussion.
providing appropriate training when changes are to be made.
implementing effective communication channels so that misunderstandings are avoided, and staff feel safe, secure, and confident in their workplace.
ensuring breaks provided in various awards are taken by employees.
ensuring rosters and workloads are realistic and include staff planning and preparation time.
conducting regular reviews of changes and programs for impact and effectiveness.
ensuring duty statements reflect changes when work procedures or practices are modified.
Staff will be encouraged to report stress above their personal comfort level to the director/immediate supervisor.
Staff will be encouraged to recognise and handle situations which cause stress by:
making a list of the aspects of the situation which cause stress such as changes, demands, or threats which they perceive or feel will occur
trying to change these aspects by discussion and negotiation, without blaming or criticising others
assessing the extent to which negative attitudes may exacerbate stress
using a stress reduction technique such as relaxation, a physical activity which provides an outlet for tension, counselling or talking with a friend
changing habits to plan their use of time better, have a better diet, and ensuring that they take the time to relax.
When tensions are high, problem solving techniques will be employed to resolve difficulties. Staff will meet and work together to:
describe the situation as a problem without attributing blame to an individual or group
brainstorm solutions, ensuring that all have an opportunity to have their say
discuss the advantages and disadvantages of all suggestions
come to a consensus about which new approaches to try out
discuss how these approaches can be implemented
set a time for another meeting of staff to evaluate the actions taken
Smoke free environment
A non-smoking environment will be established in the centre in consultation with staff and parents.
Non-smoking signs will be displayed in the centre.
Parents will be informed of the non-smoking policy when enrolling their child.
Staff will ask visitors or parents not to smoke on the premises, if necessary.
Sourced: Workcover NSW
Health and Safety in Child Care Centres 2ndEdition
Education and Care Services National Regulation
National Quality Standard
Work Health & Safety Act 2011
Work Health & Safety Regulation 2011
Codes of Practice
Sources
- Centre Support
- EAP Assisthttps://eapassist.com.au
- BeYouhttps://beyou.edu.au
This policy is the property of Eikoh Seminar Australia Pty Limited and must not be reproduced without the consent of management.