Here’s a strange one:
Has anybody come across employees who spend a lot of time looking up using binoculars and have developed musculo-skeletal problems with their backs or necks?
We have an employee who spent the best part of a month looking up trees with binoculars and developed quite a serious condition in her lower back. This was not something we had considered when we did our risks assessments and I would like to get some idea of how common this might be. Our OH provider is investigating whether the individual concerned had an existing condition that the work exacerbated but is there any record of this happening in other work places? I assume that this might involve people in the electrical distribution industry looking at pylons or telecoms people looking at masts as well as people looking up trees.
So, any similar reports?

Google "Finnstick" - though how adaptable it is for prolonged upward viewing, rather than horizontally I don't know.

I came across a product a few years ago for use by those window cleaners that use poles to reach way up. See the link below or search the internet for "window cleaner neck support"

http://www.cleaningspot....og/Safety_equipment.html

I am sure I have seen hand-held binoculars which are angled - look horizontally but see up at an angle. Cannot find any, but two thirds down the page is something similar to the ide - albeit ridiculously expensive! This may alleviate the muscular problems?

http://www.green-witch.com/acatalog/Astronomy.html

Local authority my.... it’s the civil service actually. I don’t think we have had an in-house blacksmith since we retired the last cart horse. We have a number of Poles working for us (myself include) but none is willing to be swivel mounted!
Sorry I know it’s not Friday but it’s snowing and I am feeling a bit daft.
Thanks for the responses about the binoculars and the associated back problems- it’s just such an odd thing and I am wondering is it just one off or has it happened before.
More suggestions and any other information will be gladly received.

A Kurdziel

Your own description:
' an employee who spent the best part of a month looking up trees with binoculars and developed quite a serious condition in her lower back
suggests two major factors which substantial ergonomic research associates with MSDS
a. repetitive upper arm movements
b. postural strain.

If a valid ergonomic risk assessment was conducted, this should have been quite clear in advance, surely?

That's exactly what I thought. The terrain they are in is forestry and it quite difficult for them to move further back. The things they are looking for is beetles, or more accurately evidence that the beetles have attached the ends of branches. Therefore they have tended to stand near the base of the tree and look straight up. The injured party is also quite short and so has had to lean further back than a taller person. I have a solution: a mini drone fitted with cameras brilliant but I am not sure if our budget will stretch to it.

Have you considered asking them to lay down so they are looking forwards when viewing the trees. Removes all the problems of twisting or arching the neck. If it is wet use a lightweight groundsheet to lie on.
Take care
John C