§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the number of working days lost each year through lifting strains and back injuries.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that information on which to base an estimate is not available.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he accepts that 180 lb. is the maximum weight to be lifted by an agricultural worker in the light of current medical knowledge.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that medical opinion differs as to the appropriateness of maximum weight limits. The problem is complicated by such factors as the nature of the loads involved and the widely varying weight lifting capacity of individuals. The Employment Medical Advisory Service is to assess the existing physiological evidence as part of its contribution to the Health and Safety Exeutive's general consideration of manual lifting and carrying.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will request the Health and Safety Commission to undertake research into strains imposed by lifting under the current limits imposed by various regulations.
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§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that a study of manual weight lifting and carrying in relation to back strain will be considered together with the Health and Safety Executive's other research priorities for inclusion in its research programme.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment what discussions have taken place with the Health and Safety Commission with a view to bringing about a reduction in the number of back injuries.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that the matter of manual lifting and carrying is being considered by the Health and Safety Executive with a view to reducing fatigue and back strain occasioned by poor lifting techniques and excessive loads.
§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for Employment how many members of the staff of the Health and Safety Executive are assisting in any initial work to enable the Health and Safety Commission to consider the possibility of issuing advisory material or recommending a code of practice or regulations on manual lifting: what are the qualifications of the
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Prosecutions Improvement Notices Prohibition Notices Cambridge … … … 18 49 9 Ipswich … … … 9 13 16 Islington … … … 4 29 13 Luton … … … 5 18 10 North London … … … 13 34 5 North West London … … … 1 21 12 Norwich … … … 20 28 5 Brent … … … 5 32 2 Watford … … … 10 43 3 Westminster … … … 1 4 — Ashford … … … 4 35 10 Bethnal Green … … … 5 33 11 Brighton … … … 12 19 11 East London … … … 29 34 27 North East London … … … 8 18 35 Rochester … … … 7 37 9 South Essex … … … 10 64 12 Southwark … … … 3 8 4 West Ham … … … 24 25 13 Woolwich … … … 7 27 33 Croydon … … … 15 33 9 Ealing … … … 17 72 18 Horsham … … … 11 9 8 Kingston … … … 13 45 16 Reading … … … 11 66 22 South London … … … 6 17 8 West London … … … 4 51 3 Bridgend … … … 12 32 16 personnel involved; and how many hours each week they devote to this task.
§ Mr. Harold WalkerI understand from the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that Health and Safety Executive staff with medical and mechanical engineering qualifications have begun preparatory work with a view to advising the Commission on the problem of manual lifting and handling, and that contact has been established with a university department of engineering production. The staff concerned have other pressing duties and so far have been able to devote only a small part of their time to this work.