Physical Work Demands of Childcare Workers in Denmark: Device-Based Measurements and Workplace Observations Among 199 Childcare Workers from 16 Day Nurseries

The study investigates the physical workload among employees in Danish toddler departments (children 0–3 years old).

Participants in the study spent almost half their working day (44.8%) in sedentary positions, while the rest of the working day was spent standing (22.8%), moving (13%), walking (14.6%), running (0.1%) or on stairs (0.7%). They spent 4.1% of their working day in knee-straining positions (squatting or kneeling) and 4.3% of the day with their back bent. They carried children 1.8% of their working hours. The authors point out that Danish kindergarten employees have lower physical work demands than, for example, cleaners and industrial workers, and that it is therefore unlikely that work in toddler departments leads to health problems. However, they recommend that measures should be considered to reduce stressful postures (squatting/kneeling and standing with a bent back).

Data on a total of 199 kindergarten employees from 16 different kindergartens were collected using accelerometers, anthropometric measurements, electronic questionnaires and field observations. The participants were followed for five consecutive days.

Holtermann, A., Hendriksen, P. F., Schmidt, K. G., Svendsen, M. J. & Rasmussen, C. D. N. (2020). “Physical Work Demands of Childcare Workers in Denmark: Device-Based Measurements and Workplace Observations Among 199 Childcare Workers from 16 Day Nurseries". Annals of Work Exposures and Health, 64(6):586–595.