Absenteeism from back pain on increase For every 14 certificates of incapacity issued by medical practitioners, at least one will be as a result of back pain. The Back Pain Association points out in its magazine Talk Back, that the statistics recently issued by the Department of Health and Social Security show that back pain is on the increase. Now over 88 000 workers are absent every working day, as opposed to 60 000 quoted previously. It costs the nation over £1000 million each year in lost production and health service costs. The Back Pain Association's appeal to industry, who are the greatest sufferers in lost production and lower profits from this absenteeism, for funds needed to improve research has been disappointing due to the recession. Still only 7p in every £100 spent on medical research is allocated to back pain.
Patient transfer roller
Patient manoeuvringdevice The Paroll patient roller can be used for transferring patients from ambulance to bed, from one bed to another, or from bed to operating or X-ray table. During examination or X-raying, the roller can be used for turning the patient over from supine to prone. The roller consists
of four main parts: a head support, two lifting boards with rollers and straps to secure the patient, two runners, and a lifting rod. A wall rack is available, also a floor rack with trolley, and there will shortly be a 'mini' roller for nursing patients in bed. Details from Medimec A/S, N-5250 Lonevag, Norway.
June cover A late change for production reasons resulted in the incorrect caption appearing on the June issue contents page. The cover photo used was, of course, taken from the article beginning on page 103.
Coming events EVENT
TIME & PLACE
DETAILS FROM
Ergonomics of mental activities
17-19 September Louvain, Belgium
Anne Van Laethem, vole du Roman Pays 20, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
Sport and science
1 8 - 2 0 September Stoke-on-Trent, UK
Dr L. Burwitz, Division of Sport and Science, Crewe & Alsager College, Alsager, Stoke-on-Trent ST7 2HL, UK
Computer ergonomics
20-25 September Loughborough, UK
J.S. Wilcox, Administrative Assistant, Dept of Human Sciences, University of Technology, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU, UK
Prevention of occupational risks in the construction industry
2 1 - 2 3 September Lisbon, Portugal
Instituto Nacional de Segnros, Av 5 de Octubre, 17-1094 Lisboa Codex, Portugal
Successful systems design: the human element
21-24
September Uxbridge, UK
The Secretary, Management Programme, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middx UB8 3PH, UK
Noise in industry
25 September Uxbridge, UK
The Secretary, Management Programme, Brunel University, Uxbridge, Middx UB8 3PH, UK
Man-machine systems - 14th annual meeting of the Human Factors Association of Canada
1-2 October Toronto, Canada
Dr R.D.G. Webb, Ergonomics Unit, School of Human Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 ,Canada
Ergosea 8 1 - Human Factors at Sea
5 - 8 October Plymouth, UK
The Registrar, The Nautical Institute, 202 Lambeth Rd, London SE1 7LQ, UK
Design Engineering Show and Conference
6 - 9 October Birmingham, UK
Clapp & Poliak Europe Ltd, 232 Acton Lane, London W4 5DL, UK
--
course
Applied Ergonomics September 1981
191