DISABLING INJURIES TO CHILD-CARE WORKERS IN MINNESOTA, 1985 TO 1990

Injuries to clients in childcare centers have been studied to some deg ree, but the problem of worker injuries in childcare centers has remai ned unexplored. To investigate this problem, data were accessed from t wo sources for the years 1985 to 1990: 1) Minnesota Department of Jobs and Training for data pertinent to the populations of childcare cente r workers for each year of the study, and the 2) Minnesota Department of Labor for all case files relevant to reported injuries incurred by childcare center workers for each year of the study. Data analyses wer e conducted of all injuries as well as a subanalysis of back injuries incurred by female workers. The overall injury rate for the 6-year per iod was 1.08 per 100 workers. Of the 440 childcare worker injury cases , a mean age of 32 years (range, 17 to 72 years) was identified; 50% o f all cases were below the age of 29 years. Analysis by subclassificat ions of childcare workers indicated that cooks had the highest injury rate (3.61 per 100 workers) and the greatest mean number of weeks of t emporary total disability (13.2 weeks). According to anatomic site, in juries involving the back accounted for the greatest proportion of the total injuries (34.1%); 49% involved lifting a child. To protect chil dcare workers adequately, additional policies and regulations will be required, as well as further study in this area. Emphasis in the area of back injury is clearly needed, including education on proper liftin g techniques and relevant application of engineering technology. Of fu rther concern is the possibility for persistent disability among many of these workers, which can be costly to government and leave the work er financially strained. Although limited data regarding costs were av ailable, the mean cost identified for daycare worker injuries was $375 9, and this does not account for personal costs associated with these injuries. Such costs, in concert with the impact of physical trauma an d associated limitations incurred by the employee as well as the limit ations imposed upon the employer, make this an important problem.