Early childhood education and care
This page is about the risks early childhood education and care workers face and provides resources about how to prevent injuries from occurring.
The early childhood education and care sector includes educators, administrators and licensed providers who work in family day care, preschool, and outside school hours care services.
The risks
Early childhood education and care workers face many risks in the workplace, including:
- slips, trips and falls
- hazardous manual tasks such as bending, twisting and exerting high or unexpected force when lifting moving or carrying objects
- psychosocial injuries, where aspects of the job such as role demands, relationships with colleagues, bullying and harassment can cause a stress response.
Psychosocial injuries in the early childhood education and care sector
Work health and safety includes being both physically and psychologically healthy. At work you can be exposed to psychosocial hazards.
SafeWork NSW has produced this video to assist educators and managers in the sector.
SafeWork NSW has also developed the Code of practice for managing psychosocial hazards at work.
If you're experiencing bullying or other psychosocial hazards in your workplace you may raise the issue with SafeWork NSW by completing our request for service form. We can provide assistance within the scope of our legislative responsibilities. Read about how we can help or call us on 13 10 50 for more information.
Musculoskeletal disorders in the early childhood education and care sector
The most common workplace injuries can occur when performing routine tasks.
SafeWork NSW has produced this video to assist educators and managers in the sector.
Resources
Risk identification resources have been developed to support businesses, employers and workers identify hazards in the workplace and prevent injuries from occurring.
- Hazard awareness resources (posters, fact sheets and screen savers) – download, print and display posters in your workplace, use screen savers on your computer desktop and use fact sheets as a conversation starter with staff, in staff induction packs and as a WHS resource.
- Working with cots, highchairs and change tables
- Conducting administration tasks
- Maintaining indoor and outdoor areas
- Moving furniture and equipment
- Storage solutions
- Working at low levels
- Compliance kit (developed by WorkSafe Victoria) – information about how to control risks from hazardous tasks and solutions for common activities which may pose a risk of injury.
Contact SafeWork NSW to arrange a workplace visit by one of our trained Inspectors. Our Inspector will conduct a hazard identification inspection with your workers and managers, and recommend changes to existing practices or the work environment to reduce the risk of injury.
Case studies
Start a conversation about safe workplace behaviours, mentally healthy workplaces, and how to get help to create a safe work environment. The following videos can be used in your next work health and safety meeting with staff, as part of the consultation process to identify risks, hazards and potential solutions suited to your specific workplace.
This video highlights the physical demands of caring for people, particularly in a childcare environment, and how you can reduce the risk of injury by making small changes.
Events
There are no events for the early childhood education and care sector at the moment.
For all other SafeWork NSW events, visit our events calendar.
Safety information for your sector
This section is relevant to all people who work in the Health Care and Social Assistance sector. You will find information related to:
- Managing harms
- SafeWork NSW activities and commitment
- When to notify SafeWork NSW
- Codes of practice and your legal obligations
- Translated resources
- Manager's toolkit
- Related information
Managing harms
The nature of the work in this sector presents specific hazards for workers. It is important you know what the hazards are in your workplace so you can assess the risks they pose.
Find a list of common hazards and learn how to manage the risks below.
SafeWork NSW activities and commitment
Read about what SafeWork NSW is doing to prevent injury and improve health outcomes:
- Our commitment to the health care and social assistance sector, including our action plan to 2025.
- Project Report September 2020 (PDF, 104.87 KB)
When to notify SafeWork NSW
If there is a serious injury, illness, dangerous incident, or death relating to staff, customers or visitors to your worksite or your place of employment (even if it's off-site), you must report it to us immediately.
Incidents can be notified 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 13 10 50. If you're unsure of whether to notify, use Safe Work Australia's Incident notification information sheet to help you decide. Read more about notifying SafeWork NSW.
Codes of practice and your legal obligations
Hazardous chemicals
Exposure to chemicals is 100% preventable. Without the proper controls chemical exposure can cause cancer, respiratory illnesses, skin and eye irritations, as well as fire and explosion-related injuries.
Our Hazardous Chemicals Code of Practice (PDF, 1171.43 KB) to help you manage hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
Manual tasks
For many businesses, manual tasks are an important part of getting the job done. Some of these tasks can be hazardous and are often the most common cause of workplace injuries.
Our Hazardous manual tasks Code of Practice (PDF, 1499.23 KB) can help you create a safer work environment.
Psychosocial hazards at work
NSW businesses need to manage exposure to psychosocial hazards and risks to psychological and physical health and safety at work.
Our Managing psychosocial hazards at work code of practice can help you manage psychosocial hazards at work.
Managing the work environment and facilities (remote and isolated work)
Download SafeWork NSW's Code of Practice for Managing the work environment and facilities (PDF, 422.29 KB).
Translated resources
There is a range of support and information available to you if you’re faced with a difficult situation at work.
The getting support at work pocket guide (PDF, 182.07 KB) is your starting point to finding the support you need. It is available in the following languages:
- Arabic (PDF, 412.26 KB)
- Simplified Chinese (PDF, 566.21 KB)
- Filipino (PDF, 377.89 KB)
- Hindi (PDF, 430.55 KB)
- Nepali (PDF, 430.56 KB)
Visit our translated resources hub for other print, web and multimedia resources.
Manager’s toolkit
The WHS Manager's Toolkit provides the health care and social assistance sector with key resources to help them manage health and safety in their
.