Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Steve Cartwright
Some of our activities require us to handball boxes from the back of refridgerated wagons. This task can not be eliminated. Some employees have inquired about the use of weight lifters belts to help support their backs when carrying out this task. Would this be ok or is there any reason why we can not supply these belts.
I would be grateful for any help.
Thanks
Steve Cartwright
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Steve
Have you fully considered the use of some sort of mechanical assistance? You can get sack barrows with forks or a platform that can take up to 200kg, both of which are raised by manually operated hydraulic ram.
Paul
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Chris Pope
"Lumbar Support (back belts) do not protect against back pain" from a leaflet entitled Back pain at work : a guide for people at work and their employers produced after research by British Occupational Health research foundation and Faculty of Occupational Medecine with support from Blue Circle Industries (the cement people).
I don't recall where I got this leaflet from but I do recall hearing that belts merely encourage employees to lift heavier weights than they ought to.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Robert Paterson
Hi Steve
We have a similiar problem where cases are 'handballed. into a 20' container. The customer asks for no pallets in side of the container hence the reason for hand loading.
We try to put the pallet in as far as possible using the reach forlift truck reducing the need for travel with the cases.
Rotation of the employees gives extended rest periods for each one lifting.
Mechanical means as mentioned is not possible as there is not enough room for platform or use of barrow trucks.
One of the companies that I worked for did issue support belts with braces. It helped some of the workforce to be able to lift correctly and reduced the number of back strains. Suggest you trial one to see if it makes any difference. Arco do a range of suppoprt belts.
Manual Handling training if not already done could assist you to educate the workforce to handle the boxes better.
Hope that helps
Regards
Robert Paterson
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Fiona Cowan
Steve
Have you seen powered barrow trucks with flexible mechanisms. Simple and effective for situations including flights of stairs and on/off vehicles it would take product to rear of a confined space such as refrigerated truck and reduce the need for manual handling.
Try the following link for a good description of this sort of thing in action.
Regards
Fiona
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By peter gotch
Steve
Chris' comment echoes what appears to be the general view of ergonomists internationally.
Back supports considered to have very limited useful application, and definitely not a substitute for means of reducing the risk other than by the use of PPE.
Peter
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.