Posted By Phil Roberts Can anybody point me in the direction of any guidlines on weight limits for school children delivering newspapers. My company wish to start useing direct deliveries for our weekly newspapers with school children as the main source of labour. I know the HSE have just published advice for employers and newsagents on handling newspaper bundles with a maximum target weight of 18 kgs. reducing to 17 kgs but there is no mention of weights for juveniles. I would also like your thoughts on how to carry out risk assessments for newspaper delivery boys and girls Thanks in advance Phil Roberts

Posted By Zoe Barnett You may find it useful to contact BackCare, who used to be the National Back Pain Association. They produce an information pack for schools about back care. This includes a table of recommended weights for school bags, which will probably be a good starting point. I can let you have a copy if you need one quickly. With regard to risk assessments I'd suggest you look at manual handling, lone working, any known medical conditions that the child may have, road traffic accidents and compliance with local child labour bye laws for starters. Hope this is helpful!

Posted By Phil Roberts Zoe, I would be grateful for any information you have on back care for school children and contact details for BACK CARE. My e-mail is healthandsafety@chronicle.u-net.com Fax is 01244 340165. Please mark fax FAO Phil Roberts I have a meeting with distribution management on Friday to discuss implications of direct deliveries so I need information quite quickly if Possible Thanks Phil Roberts