The British HSE is running a major national initiative this summer focussed on
reducing the incidence of back pain at work. Currently manual handling is a
major cause of back injury. One in five of those who suffer work-related ill
health has back pain ­ bad both for people and for business. The overall aim of
the Backs! 2005 initiative is to promote the use of lifting and handling aids
as a means of reducing the incidence of back injuries at work.

The main phase of the Backs! 2005 campaign will involve a nationally
co-ordinated publicity, education and inspection programme over a 4 week period
in June/July. The programme is being developed in partnership with Local
Authorities and other stakeholders and will help encourage innovative solutions
to musculo-skeletal disorder (MSD) issues.

Documents to download include:

• Back Pain and Injury at Work
  
• MAC tool - Manual handling assessment chart
  
• Getting to grips with manual handling - a short guide
  
• Are you making the best use of lifting and handling aids?
  
• Managing sickness absence and return to work in small businesses 
  
• MSD Back Pain in the workplace - Cymraeg 
  
• Getting to grips with manual handling - a short guide - Cymraeg
  
• Are you making the best use of lifting and handling aids? - Cymraeg

Further information

AplusA-online.de - Source: Health and safety Executive