Posted By Eddie I have found these useful. To demonstrate the importance of keeping the load as close to the body as possible I use a wooden rod about a metre long with a rope attached to one end, slightly shorter than the rod, and a small container of water, about half to one litre attached to the rope end. I ask each participant to hold the lower end of the rod vertical with one hand so that the weight is in contact with their hand. They find this easy. Then lower the rod so that the weight moves away from their hand. This causes increasing discomfort in the wrist which I equate to increasing strain on the lumbar spine when a load is held at a distance. It is important that the weight is not too heavy and obviously anyone with a hand/wrist disorder should use their good hand or abstain. To demonstrate the importance of maintaining a stable base I ask the participants to stand up in pairs with their feet together and to push gently on each others' shoulders. They soon feel unstable. Then repeat this but with their feet apart - they feel much more stable and less liable to go off balance. Again, anyone with a health problem such as vertigo should not attemt this. Actually demonstrating and practising manual handling techniques in a training room is not always very successful especially if the environment and general circumstances are significantly different from real life. My general feeling is that the training room is fine for the theory but practical training is best done on the job.

Posted By Ciaran McAleenan Ian Have a look at IOSH News Centre http://www.iosh.co.uk/ne...play_news.cfm?NewsID=147 There is a lot of good 'Back in Work Material' - produced as part of a Back in Work project run jointly by NSK Europe Ltd, Loughborough University, Newark Hospital and the EEF East Midlands Region. Have a look at the towels2.ppt Best wishes Ciaran