Legal advice: More information about posture
Teachers in the lower years and janitors run the risk of physical complaints if the work posture is incorrect. Teaching staff who have to lift, bend and carry a lot can develop complaints of fatigue and of muscles and joints.
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Schools are required to make a risk inventory and evaluation every four years to measure the risks to the safety, health and welfare of staff and students. The Replacement Fund previously concluded from this that the legally required information about the correct working posture of employees is regularly lacking.
Lifting, squatting and moving materials
Teaching staff who have to lift, bend and carry a lot run the risk of fatigue, muscle and joint complaints. These are teachers in the lower years who lift young children or squat down with them. And janitors and other support staff moving heavy materials, carts and furniture. If the attitude is incorrect, this can lead to absenteeism and repeated overload even to incapacity for work, warns the Replacement Fund. That is why the fund advocates regular and good information by employers.
The advice is: repeat instructions about physical actions and hang one in different places 'safety first card' with tips to prevent physical (over) stress.
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Some tips are: ensure proper lifting technique: stand in a slightly straddled position, lift as close to your body as possible, carry the load at hip height to relieve the back and keep your back straight. As much as possible, bring the working height of students to the same height as that of teachers. For example, purchase a mobile saddle stool or sit-stand support. And appoint an 'ergo coach' who identifies bottlenecks and looks for solutions.
