The Health and Safety Executive and Unison want examples of good practice in tackling backpain among cleaning staff.
The information from the joint initiative will be fed to the Robens Centre for Health Ergonomics at the University of Surrey which will produce guidance based on case studies.
In particular they want a brief description of how the problem came to light, how the solution was developed and who was involved, plus a breakdown of the costs and benefits.
Cleaning staff are one of the highest risk groups for strain injury at work. A recent survey of 5,000 cleaners, working mainly in health, education and local authorities, found nearly a quarter had been off work with work-related pain in the previous 12 months.
- Contact: Nancy Hamilton, HSE, 59 Belford Road, Edinburgh, EH4 3UE, 0131-247 2100.
