Health & Safety - Carrying Aids

As you are aware the POA NEC Health and Safety team have been attending meetings to look at the risk of the weight of equipment which you are required to wear around your waist.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the minimum your employer must do is:

• Identify what could cause injury or illness in their business (hazards)
• Decide how likely it is that someone could be harmed and how seriously (the risk)
• Take action to eliminate the hazard, or if this isn’t possible, control the risk

As an employer they must also manage the risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace and they must protect you from the risks MSDs being caused or made worse by work. MSDs include injuries and conditions that can affect the back, joints and limbs.

They:

• Can do things to prevent or minimise the risk of their workers (and others who may be affected by what they do) developing MSDs
• Cannot prevent all MSDs, so early reporting of symptoms, proper treatment and suitable rehabilitation are essential and this is what we are asking members to do further down in the article

It is coming across to the union that the employer is trying to prevent this work being done as they are not in favour of our members looking too militaristic or too authoritative, this is not about how employees look but about their future Health and Wellbeing. No matter what the employer does to dumb down the uniform they cannot get away from their responsibilities under the HASAWA 1974 in protecting our members Health Safety and Wellbeing.

We reported to the employer the following;

• Members felt the utility belt was causing discomfort which has led to an injury
• Members reported it was becoming increasingly difficult to keep items in a position which they could be easily accessed
• Members are worried the increased equipment plus the weight of equipment has begun to cause aches and pains at the end of a long shift

HMPPS commissioned Optima Health to undertake an ergonomic assessment which included stakeholder engagement, equipment assessments, data collection, previous research and structured interviews with Prison Staff.

Nowhere in the report does it mention of the risks of MSDs being caused or made worse by work.

Therefore, HMPPS have decided they will issue all members who carry equipment with a leaflet which details how equipment should be spaced on the belt to aid in carrying the equipment safely, however the equipment will move once the member becomes mobile which we believe does not remedy the problem and still puts you at risk.

Contained in the leaflet there are a series of exercises which are supposed to alleviate aches and pains, but no time will be given to members to do the exercises during work hours.

The Executive believe this approach will not address the concerns raised regarding potential MSD issues now and in the future due to long-term wearing of the utility belt and the excessive weight contained on it.

There appears to be a reluctance by HMPPS to introduce suitable carrying aids to keep you our members safe from musculoskeletal injury in the workplace which we believe will develop in time if this is not addressed by your employer.

The Executive believe the employer is putting cost before your health and wellbeing.

IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION FOR MEMBERS

We would advise those members who have reported an injury to their back, shoulders, hips, knees, ankles or feet should ask to be referred to occupational health to be reviewed by an MSD specialist. Our members should ask to be provided with alternate carrying aids to assist them to continue to work and facilitate the management of their ongoing health and wellbeing within work. We would also advise members to enter this into the accident book and seek legal advice for a potential personal injury.

Those members who report ongoing discomfort from the utility belt and the weight of the equipment after a shift should also report this as a near miss accident and request this be entered onto their OH file.

The Executive also advises all members required to carry equipment which they consider to be excessive and have concerns over their future health and wellbeing regarding musculoskeletal injury to;

• Request an OH referral to an MSD specialist to ensure they are safe from harm to carry the equipment their employer needs them to carry and,

• Enter a near miss report into the accident book. l

JOE SIMPSON
DEPUTY GENERAL SECRETARY CHAIR
POA HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE