Education jobs a ‘pain in the neck...and back'

Released 01/04/2011

Work-related injuries shockingly high in the education and early years sector and there is little help for those who suffer, despite legislation in place to protect them, survey says

Startling evidence has been revealed in a new survey regarding the sheer scale of work-related injuries in the education sector and lack of help for sufferers, despite legislation in place to protect employees.

The overwhelming majority of respondents to the review, undertaken by physiotherapist Lorna Taylor in conjunction with education union Voice, felt that the issue of work-related injuries in education was underreported, with only eight per cent officially recording their problems.

Most said they didn't report them or didn't know how to raise their concerns.

Over a third did not report their pain because they feared jeopardising their career.

Many staff said that they could no longer sit on the floor; now worked part-time supply rather than full-time; had moved to work with older children; or were forced to take ill-health retirement because of their injuries.

These kinds of injuries run rife in schools, with 98% of respondents to the anonymous questionnaire mailed to early years and primary teaching professional members of Voice across the UK last year reporting discomfort that they felt was work-related at some point in their career.

The type of injuries included the following:

88% experienced back pain
73% experienced neck and shoulder pain
82% experienced musculo-skeletal discomfort (MSD)once a week or more
38% had been off work
70% had received treatment (NHS, private or both). Several respondents had received hip, knee and back surgery - two in their 30s had undergone back surgery. Private treatment included physiotherapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, acupuncture, massage, podiatry and orthopaedic surgery
82% reported discomfort once a week or more
36% reported daily pain.

Work activities causing discomfort included:

91% bending over low tables
85% sitting on children's chairs
71% kneeling at low tables/on the floor
Others included manual handling (lifting/carrying children - off climbing equipment, for nappy changes, if they have fallen), putting up displays, working at child-height computers, bending over laptops in class, standing all day, picking up items from the floor, moving heavy boxes from above head height, working at low whiteboards, physically assisting children with special needs, being outside for long periods in the cold and wet.

A similar level of back pain was reported by staff who had worked with young children for less than five years as it was in those who had worked over 20 years.

Only eight per cent of respondents had officially recorded their work-related discomfort, despite 48% visiting their GP and 83% discussing it with friends and family. Eleven per cent did not mention their discomfort to anyone.

Most respondents (95.5%) felt that work-related MSD in the education profession was underreported - 77% because it is ‘accepted as part of the job', 67% ‘don't wish to complain', 55% ‘unaware of reporting systems in place' and, of particular concerns, 37% because of ‘fear of jeopardising career'.

Voice general secretary Philip Parkin said: "It is very concerning that so few people are reporting their workplace-induced injuries or pain. It is particularly alarming that some fear to do so.

"If these people worked in county hall or any office, these issues would be taken seriously or not happen in the first place. Primary and early years settings are, naturally, designed for children, but more thought needs to go into the needs of the adults who work there, too."

He urged those working in education to speak to their headteacher, manager, GP, health and safety representative or union.

"Reporting ill health at work is a legal requirement," Parkin said. "Every workplace must have a reporting system in place. Record your injury in the accident book, explaining what activities led to it."

He also reminds employers that they are responsible for ensuring safe working practices and that no news is not good news since as many as 55% of employees surveyed didn't even know what the reporting system was at their school.

"Employers need to be proactive, see the issues and manage them, both to protect their staff and to reduce the costs of staff being off sick through work-related injuries," he urged.

"Many respondents felt they should have access to improved information and training, in particular trainee teachers. Regular training and manual handling policies can also help reduce staff injury."

Physiotherapist Taylor said there is "good evidence" that prevention-focused strategies including information, training and appropriate equipment can result in savings to an organisation in terms of increased staff efficiency and reductions in absence.

Meanwhile, Sean McDougall, acting chief executive of the national charity BackCare, said the situation "is just as bad" for children, who often spend 1,000 hours a year sitting on chairs designed for short-term occasional use.

As a result, he says BackCare will be running a campaign on the issue of improving furniture in schools this autumn.

Click here for a copy of the Voice survey.

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