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#1 Posted : 22 February 2006 12:01:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Atkinson
We are looking at a manual handling issue (occasional change of cylinders on a printing press). A physiotherapist has suggested that one solution might be to provide employees with back support belts. I am against this, as I want to promote an ergonomic solution to the issue, but have not been able to find any conclusive evidence of the problems associated with back support belts

I would welcome hearing from anybody who could point me in the right direction for some evidence to support my position. Thanks
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#2 Posted : 22 February 2006 12:09:00(UTC)
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Posted By gham
I have a till use belts.... in the gym though

I dont recon they do much for you untill you put the strain on your back when in an upright position but they really do helt reduce and even prevent twisting of the back, over compression of lumbar muscles and help to prevent lateral movement.

Sorry I don't have anything bad to say about them they have always worked for me and i wouldn't not use one when lifting weights, although they are still PPE!


G'
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#3 Posted : 22 February 2006 12:10:00(UTC)
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Posted By gham
i should have read over that before I posted it sorry!
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#4 Posted : 22 February 2006 13:02:00(UTC)
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Posted By Descarte
Hierarchy of control, PPE as a last resort? Ensuring correct use, enforcing use, training of use, right sizes, fits, positions?
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#5 Posted : 22 February 2006 13:13:00(UTC)
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Posted By Doug Russell
NIOSH in the US did some detailed research on this about 5 years ago and concluded that back belts were of no help in preventing handling injuries in the workplace. See http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/beltinj.html
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#6 Posted : 22 February 2006 13:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By Patrick Guyomard
Try L23 Manual Handling paragraphs 186 & 187.
Not evidence as such, just the HSE saying there's no conclusive evidence to support their use - they may make particular individuals more susceptible to injury or to more severe injury. They may have long-term effects, with prolonged use, such as a weakening of support muscles. They are still controversial. It is preferable to reduce the risks through safe systems of work which protect groups of workers rather thatn the individual.
This sort of thing is repeated in the Manaul Handling sections of the HSE website - I guess if you checked out the research section there might be something there.

Have fun

Pad

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#7 Posted : 22 February 2006 14:28:00(UTC)
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Posted By Jos
Not sure if this is any help. I have always been of the understanding that using belts are a bad idea because they can give people the "invincible" feeling and they can end up being injured because they try and lift too much.
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#8 Posted : 22 February 2006 15:00:00(UTC)
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Posted By David Kimmins
Having sat through the presentations by the NIOSH study group and having the opportunity to ask them questions, I personally dismiss their study as flawed.

A back belt is merely a reminder of posture; it is not the same thick belts used by power lifters. As such it requires training in its use; NIOSH did look at whether users in the study had been trained in the correct use of the back belt. (Actually they had not).

I'm not saying back belts are therefore proven to be effective because the NIOSH study was fundamentally flawed, I'm just saying it's inconclusive.

Even if they had asked the right questions and looked at the right issues, the question would remain, were the back belts effective in those users who had been trained in their use because they wore back belts or was it because the training showed them how to lift correctly?
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#9 Posted : 22 February 2006 15:58:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Shillabeer
My advise is quite simple comply with the manual handling regulations full stop. Why are you suggesting manually handling these rolls anyway??? Do you know anyone in the steel industry who can advise on how they change rolls on the rolling mills? Purphaps the steel rolls are much larger i'm not sure?
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#10 Posted : 22 February 2006 16:51:00(UTC)
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Posted By Phil Atkinson
Thank you all for your responses - I was aware of the NIOSH study, and some of its limitations, however it is good to hear this from someone with first hand experience.

The current practice is to handle the cylinders (about 10kg) manually, but we are seeking a better solution, and are looking at various solutions (lighter cylinders, better access, MHE etc) however all of these will take time to engineer, hence the advice of the physio which I am contesting.

Thanks again and any further comment is welcome
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#11 Posted : 22 February 2006 17:55:00(UTC)
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Posted By Chris Pope
Ask the British Occupational Health Research Foundation.
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#12 Posted : 22 February 2006 19:31:00(UTC)
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Posted By Karen Todd
There is a air transport information leaflet from HSE that mentions the use of these belts. Think it was mentioned on a previous thread here.

Karen
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