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Posted By Gill Reavley
On the subject of manual handling one of our staff has suggested we supply back braces. I have not found any HSE documentation supporting (or otherwise) their use.
Does anyone know of a reputable reference on the subject?
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Posted By Paul Leadbetter
Gill
I don't know of any reputable references but there was some discussion about such things a few months ago on this forum; a search may give you the information you are looking for.
Paul
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Posted By Gill Reavley
Thanks Paul, I did try a search on "brace" before I posted the question but it only came up with one item on paint fumes!
If you can remember the discussion enough to provide a better keyword I would appreciate it. I'll have another look though.
Regards,
Gill
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Posted By Allan St.John Holt
There's a lot of material on US websites on this - research done three or four years ago showed that they do more harm than good and the sales dropped like a stone. Main problems are over-confidence in them by the wearer, employers using them instead of examining ways to remove the need for manual handling followed by training, plus they don't support the back too well unless carefully fitted and worn 'properly', despite the makers' claims.
In my judgment they are a problem, not a solution. Others may disagree, but overall I think you would need a very special case to justify their use. And of course it's the usual PPE problem - whatever good they might do is nullified if they aren't worn!
Hope this helps,
Allan
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Posted By Gill Reavley
Heather and Allan,
From the info I'd gathered I figured that current feeling did not support their use.
Your responses both help lend a bit of weight to the argument.
Many thanks.
Gill
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Posted By George Wedgwood
Definitely to be avioded at all costs! If your tasks need such a radical approach to back support, you should be automating them as any worthwile MHO assessment will show that such tasks are high risk. Use the HSE MHO calculator and be honest about the risks and see what it comes up with.
Managing any kind of prothesis or support to help 'mitigate' MHO risks just adds aditional risk as you loose control of part of the task management and of the personal approach to "I am a weightlifter' so I can lift very heavy things - look at my brace!"
None of the MHO learning and training I have done over the last 15 years has ever shown such a device to be effective and yet you still see (mainly in the US, as mentioned) them advertised.
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