Aim: Improvement of occupational health
and safety standards with the emphasis on
protection from infectious diseases, protection
of working mothers, ergonomics, noise,
psychological stress.
Methods: Inspection of 557 nursery schools
in Bavaria (about 9 % of all Bavarian nursery
schools) by medical occupational health officers
in 2008/2009 and assessment of deficiencies
by means of checklists. Investigation
of psychological stress by personal questionnaires
(n = 2890) and determination of the
Work Ability Index (n = 1459).
Results: Considerable deficiencies were
found in 83 % of the nursery schools. In 37 %
room acoustics had been improved by constructional
measures. In 34 % ergonomic
chairs were in use. Risk assessments according
to the German regulations on the protection
of workers from biological hazards
(Biostoffverordnung) had been carried out
in 24 %. Psychological stress had been considered
in 8 %. Preventive medical check-ups
had been carried out in 54 %.
The evaluation of the questionnaires
showed that more than one third of the nursery
nurses had work-related psychological
or physical disorders. Noise and too large
groups of children were the problems most
commonly reported. When asked what would
improve their situation most, the nursery nurses
suggested reduction of the noise level,
provision of suitable chairs in the group
rooms, improved possibilities for further training
and transparency of decision-making.
Conclusions: The results of this investigation
indicate that the following measures should
have priority: 1) improvement of ergonomics,
especially provision of ergonomic chairs
(and further measures for avoiding back
problems); 2) adherence to DIN 18041 in
newly built nursery schools, later on in older
schools as well; 3) inclusion of the topic ”psychological
stress” in the risk assessment with
appropriate consequences and measures;
4) reliable organisation of regular times for
preparation and post-processing work and
of stand-in staff for vacations or sick leave; 5)
improvement of education and training (for
example extra-occupational training at vocational
schools [Berufsfachschulen]); 6) better
involvement of occupational physicians and
safety experts; 7) improvement of protection
from infectious diseases; 8) better adherence
to the regulations of maternity protection.
