Lifting Belts

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Keith1983
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Lifting Belts

Post by Keith1983 »

Does anybody use lifting belts for operators who do quite a bit of lifitng?

I am quite aware that PPE is the last resort and that there are a million and one things to do before we would even consider providing these. We have been asked by a gentleman if we can provide him with one.

We have done lots of thorough assessments for manual handling for the process and put lots of control measures in place to reduce the need for manual handling. Do people think this is a good additional control measure to have in place? We would only provide them to operators in high risk areas and ensure they were educated in their correct use.

What do people think? Does anybody issue them on their site?
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by leehoward »

Hi Keith.

Manual handling operations should be reduced to ALARP- The following questions may need to be ansewred.

1-Has he had any porblems with his back before and this needs to be established throught the fit for work policy - doctors letter ect also inconjuction EMAS 1974.
2- Does the belt or use of the belt signify an uncontrolled risk.
3- His he going to use the bely correctly, training, information and instruction.
4- Is their a potential situation for civil action
5- Altenative methods of work and can he be relocated until this issue is resolved.

LeeHoward
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by Keith1983 »

We have very good working practices and the gentleman who asked was doing so as a query not due to an injury. What we're really looking at is that could they further reduce the risk of injury to those in the highest risk areas of our factory?
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by ddlh »

Keith - IMO it could actually be a benefit as it will force the worker to bend the knee to get down to pick up a load - his ability to bend at the waist will be restricted

But on the other hand, it may give them a false sense of security in that they are "supported"

Personally I would not provide them but that is just my opinion. Doesthe ACOP not mention supports somewhere?

Dave
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by ddlh »

Keith - see sect 22 - lumber support belts

http://www.hse.gov.uk/foi/internalops/f ... /313_5.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Dave
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by Reddwarf »

I was working out in America many moons ago and noticed the cleaners wearing these belts with straps that went over the shoulders. i found ou the company provided them to help avoid any claims, the cleaners where only pick up bits of rubbish and emptying waste bins so no heavy lifting at all. i think you could look at them as an additional aid but not instead of good practice which you make clear you are not doing. If think there are some specific bits of kit on the market for this as opposed to just a weight lifters belt. i see no reason why not.
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Keith1983
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by Keith1983 »

The belts would be on top of all the measures we have in place. We would insist on them being signed for to keep track of who has been issued them and would only issue them where appropriate. We would provide some training in how to wear them and to make users aware that the belt doesn't enable them to lift any larger amounts just to do it more safely. I will have a look a tthe type of belts available.
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by Phil »

These made an appearance on Hells Kitchen a fortnight ago when the girls were required to offload deliveries.

I am confused as to their usefulness. I suspect they would encourage the wearer to lift heavier loads rather than reduce the risk of injury when lifting a similar load to one they would lift without the belt.
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by aceface »

was on a city and guilds manual handling train the trainer course and he said not use use or advise anybody to use them.
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by Coolcat »

Keith, somewhere in the back of my very foggy mind so I'm not sure what the source was but not to provide lifting belts as this can cause more damage.
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by davef1969uk »

I remember a type of these belts being provided for a period offshore in the mid 90's. They were very popular among the U.S. drilling companies at the time. The belts had a standard "girdle" fitting, plus velcro "adjusters" that you could tighten when you lifted a load.

If I remember correctly, Shell did a study and found that statistically the people who used them suffered more injuries and they were outlawed except where medical advice for the use had been given.

perhaps down to a combination of perception that they could "lift more" in a belt, and that core muscles began to rely on the belt that actually encouraged poor posture.

I know that personally, I developed a back ache in the weeks I used it.

I'm a SIPP (Schlumberger Injury Prevention Program) trainer (amongst other things!) and that's all based on good old fashioned "technique" and proper planning of the tasks when it comes to Manual handling.
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Re: Lifting Belts

Post by leehoward »

Dave- bang on!!!!!!!

EMAS 1974 suggests that a company in such situation should provide advice for this particular employee to seek medical advice.

I also believe that lifting belts do creat a false sense of stabilty which can lead to further irritation and injury, their are ceratin measures to be taken when using belts and one being they have to be tight enought to work effectively, this means that they should be no gap in the lumbur region, you should not be able to slide a flat hand between the belt and the persons back they also in most cases are designed to fit the individual.

I suggest this as i have industry specific qualification in rehabilitation of soft tissue injuries and have given advice on such situations. If you need assisstance to lift then its too heavy, all lifting tasks should be within the individuals capability. T.I.L.E.

Be carefull and I would tend to go with Dave's suggestions

Regards lee
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