Ergonomic formation of hygienic-sanitary spaces in consideration of health, safety and well-being of children

Abstract

Issues of safety and comfort of use are among the main objectives of ergonomic design hygienic and sanitary spaces, rooms and facilities. Their proper ergonomic quality plays a key role in shaping the conditions affecting the health and safety of users. These are people of different age and psychophysical condition, including children in different age groups, also small and preschool children, which require special, extra care. Every day they are exposed to the risk of fall, slip, bump, wound, fracture, shock, drowning and poisoning, while using the bathroom at home and in other places such as kindergarten. The probability of an accident is very high due to the specifics and amount of different tasks for which they used the bathroom and because of the type of the bathroom equipment. The increased vulnerability of children to accidents is a result of their large mobility and spontaneity. Children manifest a special interest in the environment and the desire to learn about it, but often their attention is distracted, due to their temperaments. In addition, still undeveloped full physical fitness and lack of sense of distance and ignorance of risks and hazards, enhance their vulnerability to accidents. Preventive actions aimed at adapting the hygienic-sanitary places to meet the needs of children with particular reference to their health, safety and well-being can improve the quality of bathrooms for all users. Therefore, consideration of this issue at the stage of their planning and design is extremely important. The work will be discussed the types of inconveniences and risks to which children are exposed using the bathroom. The paper will be presented ways to prevent them by introducing precautions and additional improvements in the bathroom. The bathrooms, which are used by children should not only be functional and safe, but also attractive and interesting, therefore, work will also consider the aesthetic criteria of shaping these rooms.