The Use Black Belts - Essay Example

Back Belts of Introduction In most companies, the use of back belts as an occupational health and safety is a very important consideration that they have to make. It also forms the health professionalism in the workplace, forcing the workers to the back belt always, so long as they are in the work-place. Studies have given contradictory information on the effectiveness of the gadgets, thereby, prompting an evaluation on how safe the workers are, with the back belts. Therefore, the case study below presents the findings, on the use of black belts, in preventing back injuries in the workstation. Background Information from one Manufacturer of Back Belts Buckingham Manufacturing Company is one of the manufacturers of black belts in the United States. According to the company, the back belts they manufacture is of high quality and gives maximum protection against back injuries, when used properly and always in the work-place. The company affirms that the belts act as the back saver for the workers who use them frequently. Indeed, the company explains that the belts support the back when the worker is lifting the materials or bending. Background Information from NIOSH Despite the wide use of Back Belts in preventing back related injuries in the work-place, the research that NIOSH conducted in 2000, in collaboration with CDC, found out that wearing back belts is not proven as the viable means of preventing back injuries for the workers (NIOSH & CDC, 2000). Specifically, the workers doing the lifting or moving the heavy merchandise are the most affected. In the study, there was no significant variation in the reported back injuries in the work-place when comparing the workers who used the back belts on daily basis, with the ones who did not use the belts, or those who rarely used the belts, sometimes, twice in one month (NIOSH & CDC, 2000). Furthermore, the statistics did not prove that those who worked in stores, where the use of back belts is compulsory and in other places where their use is optional, despite their often lifting duties, reported significantly different claims of having back related problems or injuries (NIOSH & CDC, 2000). Therefore, the research indicated that the use of back belts is important, though; it does not offer significant protection from back injuries in the wok-site. Analysis of Key Points In a contradictory note, the manufacturer of the back belts asserts that the safety gadgets are very useful and effective in reducing back injuries and related pain during work. Besides, the company claims that it is through proper and consistent use that the worker could achieve best results. In essence, this is a defensive and marketing strategy that the company employs in ensuring that, they gain consumers’ confidence on the products. Alternatively, HIOSH and CDC conducted an elaborate study on the effectiveness of the back belts. In their findings, they realized that the belts did not offer significant protection from back injuries, making the users to be doubtful of their effectiveness. Essentially, the back belts are designed to protect the worker from back pain and other related injuries, which the workers suffer in the process of undertaking the duty (NIOSH & CDC, 2000). Mostly, there is a lot of emphasis on wearing the belts especially when lifting and bending, and the workers are expected to be on their belts always. However, most of them still report cases of back pain and injuries despite having their back belts on, as the study discovered. This makes their use and effectiveness doubtful and most companies are left to look for alternative means of protecting their workers. During lifting, most workers suffer injuries on their back due to flexibility. Since a lot of weight is exerted on the body, the back column is most affected and prone to sustaining the injuries. Previous research on the effectiveness of the belts that NIOSH conducted in 1994 showed that they could offer considerable help to the workers against the back related problems, which characterized that work-place injuries (NIOSH & CDC, 2000). As a result, various companies advocated for the use of the belts in preventing such injuries. However, the latest research that the same Institution has done provided different findings, discrediting the effectiveness of the belts. This gives the companies the challenge in implementing the safety regulations requiring all the workers to wear back belts during work. Recommendation In spite of the challenges, wearing the belts during lifting activities, offer some level of protection against back injuries. Under the working condition when the workers are forced to bend and lift heavy equipments frequently, the use of back belts would be necessary and recommendable. Indeed, this would act as part of the approach in preventing the back pain and other related injuries in the plant. The minimal protection that using the belts would offer to the workers is of greater advantage than leaving the employees to perform the duties without any form of protection. Through using the belts, the amount that the company would use in treating the problem might reduce significantly, thus, lowers the constant occurrence of the back injuries pains. Instances not to permit the use of Back Belts In cases where the number of reported injuries is increasing despite the proper and consistent use of the back belts, the employees would not be permitted to use them. Therefore, the company would be obliged to seek an immediate alternative solution to the problem, to rescue the workers from sustaining further injuries. Supplementing the use of Back Belts The company would use power-lifting equipment, to supplement the manual ways of lifting goods, especially when dealing with very heavy items. Also, the articles on strength training would be supplied to the workers to read, in order to get motivated to apply them in strengthening their muscles. The company will allocate time for body building for all the workers engaged in lifting, to ensure that they become physically fit. Own Opinion Personally, I believe that the use of back belts is vital in preventing that back injuries in the work-place. Many companies have minimized the injuries that the workers suffer, through using such protective devices. Therefore, I would encourage their use, and in case the workers continue to protract additional injuries, despite wearing the back belts, the company would seek a different means of offering prevention to the workers during the duty. Conclusion In summary, it is evidenced that the there is minimal protection that the back belts give the workers. Despite the different information that the manufactures give and the research findings, the use of back belts in preventing back injuries is a primary way of reducing the number of injuries. In addition, in case the back belts prove unreliable in preventing the worksite injuries, then the company should seek an alternative and immediate solution. Moreover, the company should employ the use of other means of handling heavy goods, such as the power-lifting, to reduce the workload for the workers and minimize work-place injuries. References NIOSH & CDC. (2000). No Evidence that the Back Belts Reduce Injury Seen in Landmark Study of Retail Users. 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