Work and Health Among Early Childhood Education Workers in Washington State

Details

• Personal Author:
  Otten J ; Seixas, Noah S.
• Description:
  Early childhood education (ECE) workers are potentially exposed to myriad health risks on the job including infectious disease, musculoskeletal strain, and high levels of stress. However, little research has focused on the health status of the ECE workforce, the prevalence and characteristics of poor working conditions they may confront, and associations between the two. Using a statewide survey and detailed worksite observational methods, we developed a comprehensive assessment of work and health in the industry. The major goals of the project were to: 1. Characterize the work exposures, health, and associated factors among a representative sample of registered ECE workers in WA State, including exploring the relationships between working conditions and health, and the quality of learning environments, and 2. Conduct a detailed assessment of work factors that may affect the health of ECE workers through on-site work observations. Because the study began during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and would inherently reflect pandemic-impacted working conditions and health, we included a focused characterization of these impacts of the pandemic on the ECE workforce, taking advantage of the timely distribution of the survey during 2021. The results of this study have a variety of potential public health impacts. We found high levels of stress among the ECE workforce with additional stressors added during the pandemic and the organizational responses to these challenges. The study identifies several factors which could significantly reduce stress on the ECE workforce, through improved management practices, and demonstration of respect for work. We found a broad array of factors, including employment conditions, workplace exposures, psychosocial factors and economic challenges contributing to poor general health, physical functioning, injury, depression and economic outcomes among the ECE workforce. ECE workers were exposed to high levels of ergonomic stressors, potentially affecting the low back and knees. A multi-faceted approach to improving the lives and working conditions of this vital workforce is needed. Taken together, a multitude of interventions in ECE working conditions including organizational policies, government support and regulation, and individual health behavior training could improve these conditions. Follow-up studies are needed to consider the potential effectiveness of alternative strategies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Education Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety Workplace
• Keywords:
  Child Care Workers Coronavirus COVID-19 Infectious Diseases Mental Health Occupational Exposure Teaching Work Environment Worker Health
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-5
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20067013
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R21-OH-011623, 2022 Nov; :1-5
• Contact Point Address:
  Noah S. Seixas, Professor Emeritus, University of Washington, Dept. of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, Seattle, WA
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2023
• NORA Priority Area:
  Services
• Performing Organization:
  University of Washington, Seattle
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20190901
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20210831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:bdf16dfa918ed7885af92e6e2537dad7774afe7fb019bb1924580dbd2e5857018f50aeeb14b2af3941597db685788d08313d8c456e8b12810ef8e6c62de84b92
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/219181/cdc_219181_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 168.18 KB ]