Back injuries trouble many

Press, 23 April 1980, Page 12

Back injuries trouble many

More than 17,000 New Zealanders suffer disabling back injuries each year, according to the supervising safety officer of the Christchurch Accident Compensation Commission (Mr R. W. Walker). Mr Walker told more than 200 people at a back care seminar in Christchurch that the problem was costing more than $lO million a year in compensation and medical expenses.. Organised by the Accident Compensation Commission to launch its national “Back Safety in the 80s” campaign the seminar attracted representatives from trade unions, Government departments, education authorities, local government, and the farming community. The commission was pleased with the interest shown in the seminar. It was the best-attended seminar it had held at Christ-

church in the last four years. Mr Walker said the interest indicated a growing awareness in the dangers of back injuries in a broad range of occupations. , The chairman of the semi- j nar (Mr G. S. Sharp) said,, “the seminar aimed to stim-l ulate interest in the prob-i lem. and we think we’ve | done that.” i A large group attended; from the trade union movement, which Mr Sharp said was consistent with a recent trend in unions to accept responsibility for their members through accident prevention. Mr Walker >. said about one-third of back injuries were caused by sprains and strains. The injuries affected productivity and efficiency. _lf everyone learned and applied the correct lifting techniaues, a big reduction in injuries could be achieved, he said.