Nursery World - Analysis: Back pain shown to afflict majority of practitioners

Not only are early years workers suffering physical damage on the job, but many assume that it just goes with the territory and neither complain nor seek help. Caroline Roberts reports.

Back pain has long been considered an occupational hazard for the early years workforce, but the evidence has been largely anecdotal. Now, new research shows how widespread the problem is. The survey of early years and primary education professionals found that 88 per cent of respondents suffered back pain, with 82 per cent experiencing pain from a variety of musculoskeletal disorders at least once a week. However, it appears that the majority are suffering in silence, as only 8 per cent had officially reported their problems to their employer.

Of particular concern was the finding that more than a third kept quiet about it because they feared it would jeopardise their career. 'Management see it as part of the job, so no action is taken,' said one respondent. Another reported being told by her manager to take more painkillers and if she still had a problem then it would be possible to find someone else to do the job.

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