§ Mr. CohenTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what action his Department is taking to reduce the number of working days lost due to back pain; what resources Her Majesty's Government provide for training employees to lift heavy weights; what guidelines he gives to employers to ensure that weights to be lifted are not too heavy; what guidelines are given in respect of office workers to ensure that office furniture and equipment do not contribute to back pain; and if he will make a statement.
452W
§ Mr. NichollsOn 31 October 1988 the Health and Safety Commission published a consultative document "Handling loads at work" containing proposals for regulations and guidance. The regulations would apply to all persons who handle loads at work, including office workers, and repeal existing fragmentary and outdated legislation. The proposals would give employers a clear strategy for reducing injuries. The guidance stresses the importance of establishing a safe system of work, taking into account the nature of the task and the load to be handled. The commission considers that excessive reliance on weight limits is inappropriate and cannot be justified on medical grounds. Training in handling techniques is likely to be effective only as a complement to a safe system of work, not as a substitute for one.