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The Effectiveness Of Back Belts In Reducing The Incidence, Duration And Cost Of Low Back Pain Claims Associated With Manual Handling Injury In A Retail Hardware Chain, Nick Merdith, Jacques Oosthuizen, Milos Nedved

Research outputs 2011

The objective of this intervention study was to examine the effect of the mandatory introduction of back belts on the incidence, days lost and cost of occupational low back injuries resulting from manual handling in a retail hardware chain in Western Australia. The pre-intervention period extended for 21 months and included 2,265,933 work hours or 647 full-time equivalent positions, while the intervention period was 32 months for 4,411,352 hours worked or 827 full-time equivalent positions. Workers’ compensation claims for all occupational injuries occurring during the study period were analysed. During the intervention period there was a 14% reduction in the …