Track: Human Factors and Ergonomics

Abstract

Daycare is considered as one of the places where children construct their characters and abilities and strengthen them.

It is a nursery for the supervision of children between the ages of 2-6 years while parents are at work. Since daycare centers are considered as second home for children, it is very important to provide a relaxed and safe environment for both teachers and children. Physical preschool environment plays a critical role on children’s cognitive, social, physical and emotional development, it affects children’s comfort, health and long-term well-being. Further, children’s physical environments may adversely affect their postures and postural risk. Research reveals that many school children sit in workstations that do not suit them properly. Schoolchildren who sit for long periods in uncomfortable postures may develop musculoskeletal symptoms that deteriorate with time. Yet common assumptions about what is ergonomically proper for adults may not be appropriate for children. Considering this situation, this paper aims to assess the ergonomic risk factors of the physical environment of daycare centers that affects the musculoskeletal discomfort of children and teachers. To address this, the researchers conducted surveys on the discomfort scores of children and teachers using the Corlett and Bishop body map questionnaire. Corlett and Bishop’s (1976) body part discomfort scale is a subjective symptom survey tool that evaluates the respondent’s direct experience of discomfort at different body parts. A total of 150 respondents were involved in the study comprised of 100 children and 50 teachers. After which, classroom facility design of daycare centers was assessed by obtaining the actual measurements of ergonomic risk factors such as light, noise and temperature level as well as actual measurements of workstations and layout. Then, statistical tools were applied to evaluate the relationship of the ergonomic risk factors to the discomfort level of occupants. Analysis of variance was used to know the significant difference in the discomfort level between children and teachers as well as significant difference between the measurements of ergonomic risk factors among the 5 daycare centers involved in the study. Then to further analyze the true significant factors contributing to discomfort scores of occupants, correlation analysis was employed.