email info@backtrack.co.uk telephone 0845 618 2484

For more information visit www.backtrack.co.uk

MOSTBACK INJURY

OCCURS IN THE

LOWER BACK

Discs are soft cartilage filled with jelly. They allow the spine to be flexible and absorb shock.

Bending at extreme angles, when stooping over for example, pinches the disc and leads to micro-tears. Continuous poor manual handling technique prevents micro-tears repairing and is the first point of pain. Continued abuse can lead to bulging of the disc and

allow the jelly to leak out from the cartilage mass.

This is a herniated disc. Recovery is slow and may never be complete.

Discs are soft cartilage filled with jelly. They allow the Discs are soft cartilage filled with jelly. They allow the

INTRODUCTION HOW IT WORKS

MANUAL HANDLING TECHNIQUE

BACK INJURIES - HOW DO THEY HAPPEN?

Stooping over repeatedly is bad for your spine and lower back.

BACK-TRACK detects when you do this by monitoring the angle of your waistband.

When stooping to pick up the box, the belt is at an angle greater than a programmed threshold angle. Every-time this angle is exceeded, the BACK-TRACK will vibrate to remind you to lift in a way that is less damagingto your back.

The data is collected in an online database. This data is viewable via BACK-TRACK reports which show those at greatest potential risk.

Back pain often comes on suddenly. Injured workers usually identify a single acute incident of lifting, however, this single incident is rarely the actual cause. Often the back has been exposed to repeated stressing and the incident – which may be no more than picking up keys off the floor – is often the last straw.

Prolonged back pain is often due to cumulative damage to the structure of the lower back (disc, vertebrae, nerves, muscles, tendons, ligaments), which occurs due to repeated stressing – made much worse by poor manual handling technique.

COMMON CAUSES OF PROLONGED BACK PAIN.Disc Strain or Bulge – occurs due to the jelly like centre in the disc being squeezed out through the layers of cartilage causing the outer wall to bulge. The bulge may press on a ligament causing local backache or on a nerve causing pain, altered sensations or numbness.

FAQsQ: Does it know what I’m doing?A: No. It knows when you turn it ON and when you turn it OFF.It knows when you are using poor manual handling technique. It has a dormancy feature, ie, it knows when it hasn’t moved for a period of time, e.g. if driving or sitting.

Q: Can my employer discipline me for any reason?A: Possibly – but this is very unlikely. Employers have a legal responsibility to protect their employees from injury. To assist them, they use the BACK-TRACK System to help them manage back welfare and therefore may make its use obligatory.

Q: It’s a bit like big brother watching me!A: Your employer has invested in the BACK-TRACK System to help you adopt good manual handling technique. This often requires a change in behaviour which is very hard to achieve. BACK-TRACK will help you do this.

Q: I hear it collects data about me – what kind of data?A: Your employer will periodically make this data available and if you are in a higher risk group, you may have a 1:1 discussion with your supervisor in an attempt to reduce your risk of back injury.

Prolapsed or “Slipped Disc” – This results from the cartilage tearing until the tear reaches the outer wall. The jelly material slips out of the disc putting pressure on spinal nerves.

SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS, BENDING AND LIFTING are common causes of this type of back disorder.

Think before you lift. (a)

Keep the load close to your waist. (b)

Adopt a stable position. (c)

Ensure a good hold on the load.

Moderate flexion (slight bending) of the back,hips and knees is preferable to stooping or squatting.

Don’t flex (bend) your back any further as you lift.

Always avoid twisting on leaning sideways.

Keep your head up when handling a load.

Move smoothly – avoid jerking the load to move it.

Don’t lift or handle more than you can easily manage.

If lifting a load above waist height, use a table to rest and adjust as necessary.

No. It knows when you turn it ON and when you turn it OFF.It knows when you are using poor manual handling technique. It has a dormancy feature, ie, it knows when it hasn’t moved for a period of

Can my employer discipline me for any reason? Possibly – but this is very unlikely. Employers have a legal responsibility to

protect their employees from injury. To assist them, they use the BACK-TRACK System to help them manage back welfare and therefore may

Prolapsed or “Slipped Disc” – This results from the cartilage tearing until the tear reaches the outer wall. The jelly material slips out of the disc putting pressure on

SITTING FOR LONG PERIODS, BENDING AND LIFTING are common causes of this type of back

THIS WAY UP

THIS WAY UP

(a)

(b)

(c)

Leaning forwardsfor extended periods will eventually cause

damage to the lower back. After 15 seconds,BACK-TRACK will vibrate and alert you

to change position.

Stooping will causeyour BACK-TRACK to vibrate

immediately.

BACK-TRACK REPORTSThe BACK-TRACK reports high-light risk associated with poor manual handling technique and ranks those at potential risk of injury through poor technique or due to the design of the task.

It is possible to change the manual handling technique across an organisation. This report shows a reduction in risk brought about by the BACK-TRACK System.

BACK-TRACK identifies who may be at an increased risk of back injury.

BACK-TRACK is attached to your belt and monitors the position of your upper

body.

As you lean forwards, you start to stretch back muscles. If you repeatedly do this you

will strain these muscles and start to stress the many components in your spine.

BACK-TRACK will vibrate to alert you if you lean forwards for an extended period.

Also, if you stoop when picking something up, your BACK-TRACK will vibrate immediately to remind you

that you are damaging your back.

You will learn to anticipate the vibration and very quickly you will amend your lifting techniques and thus

avoid damaging your back.

THIS WAY UP THIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UP THIS WAY UP THIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UPTHIS WAY UP

STOP & THINKSTOOPING. DON’T DO THIS.YOUR BACK-TRACK WILL VIBRATE.

THESE ARE GOOD LIFTING TECHNIQUES.NOTE THE ANGLE OF THE BACK-TRACK.

IT WILL NOT VIBRATE WHEN USING GOOD LIFTING TECHNIQUE.

BACK INJURY – IT’S A HUGE PROBL£MBack pain is the nations leading cause of disability with 1.1 million people disabled by it.

.One in eight unemployed people say that back pain is the reason they’re not working.4.9 million working days were lost due to back pain in 2003/4.£11 billion cost to society.19 days off per incident (average).

BACK-TRACK REPORTSThe BACK-TRACK reports high-light risk

handling technique across an organisation. This report shows a reduction in risk brought about by the

Individuals With Greater Than 2 Activactions per Hour - ALL

User Detail ForJohn DoeWakefield

5

10

15

1 M

ar

12

2 M

ar

7

3 M

ar

16

4 M

ar

1

5 M

ar

7

8 M

ar

4

9 M

ar

5

10 M

ar

3

11 M

ar

Total Stoop & Lean Activations

1

2

3

44.22

1 M

ar

2.41

2 M

ar

2.06

3 M

ar

4.05

4 M

ar

0.52

5 M

ar

1.60

8 M

ar

0.95

9 M

ar

2.64

10 M

ar

1.54

11 M

ar

Average Activations Per Hour

1

2

3

4 3:33

1 M

ar

4:58

2 M

ar

3:24

3 M

ar

3:56

4 M

ar

1:54

5 M

ar

4:22

8 M

ar

4:12

9 M

ar

1:53

10 M

ar

1:56

11 M

ar

BACK-TRACK Device Usage

Tim

e (H

ours

)

Oct 09 Nov 09 Dec 09 Jan 10 Feb 10 Mar 10

Activations64

9541

5954

70

Rank63/149 43/151 67/150 47/142 44/145 20/130

Usage (Hrs) 26:36 24:50 13:24 15:04 18:14 30:12

Activations / Hr 2.413.82

3.063.91

2.962.32

Rank51/149 35/151 38/150 24/142 25/145 27/130

Top 5% Top 10%The number of Activations is indicative of degree of exposure using poor technique, whereas

Activations / Hr is indicative of lifting technique, the lower these numbers, the better. There are no

rules as to what should be considered acceptible, however, many organisations have arbitrarrally

used 2 Activations / Hr as an initial target with the aim of regularly being below this. The

appropriateness of 2 Activations / Hr for your organisation depends on the rate of injury. If new

injuries are not occuring, then 2 may be appropriate. If they are, then perhaps a lower target should

be established.

BackTrack A1 Poster.indd 1 11/01/2012 19:41