Health & safety update

Healthy backs work better:
back strain in UK small businesses
A new report from the TUC, Backcare and the Forum for Private Business notes that back strain effects almost two-thirds of small businesses, amounting to a loss of around 13 million working days a year. Some 71% of companies employing less than 20 people reported back injuries, compared with 57% of companies employing between 20 and 99 people.

A total of 1,500 small firms were surveyed to determine the prevalence of back strain among their employees and to examine the impact on their business. Its findings reveal that 72% of employees with back problems lift regularly as part of their job. Of these, 67% carry out work that involves long periods of standing, and 65% perform tasks that involve bending. The average small firm loses nearly 22 days of work a year due to back strain, with male employees accounting for 14 days and female employees accounting for eight days.

On a positive note, the survey reveals that at least two-thirds of small business owners with a back pain problem had made a close assessment of the jobs they suspected had caused the problems, and that 40% had made changes as a result. No subsequent increases in back problems were observed in the companies that had taken such action – and in more than 40% of cases, fewer incidents were reported.

The report includes a number of back pain case studies that highlight the problems this work-related injury can cause.

Copies available priced £10 from the Forum of Private Business, Ruskin Chambers, Drury Lane, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6HA, tel: 0207 467 1325

Health surveillance in noisy industries:
advice for employers
This HSE leaflet provides introductory guidance for employers on the subject of health surveillance in noisy industries. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 requires that employees exposed to certain risk, including high noise levels, are provided with appropriate health surveillance. Health surveillance in noisy industries usually comprises:

Regular hearing checks for staff in controlled conditions to measure the sensitivity of hearing over a range of sound frequencies

Informing employees about the results of their hearing checks

Keeping records

Encouraging staff to seek advice from a doctor when hearing damage is suspected.

The leaflet discusses how to decide when health surveillance is needed, how to introduce health surveillance, how to use the results, and it gives guidance on record keeping.

Copies available from HSE Books, tel: 01787 881165, quoting INDG193. Single copies free

Manual handling for the office
VOCAM Europe has produced this video to advise on manual handling procedures in the office environment. The 18-minute video looks at the back structure and, using case studies, explains how to identify, assess and control manual handling risks.

Copies available from VOCAM Europe, 2nd Floor, Virginia House, 56 Warwick Road, Olton, Solihull B92 7HX, tel: 0121 707 0092