The dramatic increase in injury in
school ached children is
well documented throughout the internet.
As the previous Spokeswoman for the WorkCover authority of NSW, I
know if this statistic was reported in a work environment, drastic
legislative changes would be made almost immediately.
Recently, airlines have
recognised the great cost to industry in the enormous amount of injuries
from lifting heavy bags, and Heathrow Airport have just introduced a new
weight restriction to reduce strains and injuries amongst baggage handling
staff.
Christine Barringer, of the
British Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said "Manual handling injuries
account for around 40% of total airport injuries reported to HSE. The
majority of these are related to baggage handling activities, particularly
airport staff handling heavy bags. “HSE and industry are encouraged by the
17% reduction in reported injuries among baggage handlers by Heathrow based,
This demonstrates that real improvements can be made in this area for the
benefit of both airport workers and industry."
However, while business have recognised the terrible cost of incorrect lifting, or lifting overweight
bags, schools are not only allowing, but actively encouraging the lifting of
bags that could be in excess of allowable weights liftbed by baggage
handler…and these are being lifted by children.
We recently conducted a study of four schools in
the Melbourne area. Two private schools, and two public schools were
assessed and children selected randomly and their back-packs weighed.
We found that in every case, weights being
carried by children in private schools far exceeded those carried by
children from public schools. And the maximum weight found was 34kg, 2kg
over the allowable baggage handler weight. On average, children were
carrying 19.6kg.
This seems similar to the American Findings of
Dr. Rick Allen in his article "improper Use of Backpacks Leads to Chronic
Back Pain"..who
found children in the USA were carrying approximately 40lbs or 18.2kgs.
Worse than you think
In addition to
these weights carried by children, students now often carrying a LAPTOP to
school...adding even more weight to the backpack.
Some
studies have shown that lifting even 35lbs close to the body can be
hazardous for some people,
and the proof of the pudding seems to be in the eating, as "there has been
a 300% increase in backpack-related injuries among school-age children in
America since 1996."
So what can be done? Backpacks are now even
being issued by schools with the school insignia, as part of the mandatory
uniform.
All parents & friends committees should be
aware.
Shools that issue backpacks, or permit the carrying of excessive weight,
may be staring into the face of the future law suits
Many remedies have been given…ensure the
straps are over both shoulders, make sure the weight is evenly distributed
etc. However, no matter how the backpack is worn, it is creating some
kind of spinal change in the carrier – especially children.
Why don't lawyers carry bags?
Walk down the streets of any major city in the
world in the 'legal area', where the law courts are located, and you will
find that lawyers don’t carry their backpacks! They now use luggage
trolleys specifically designed for the purpose, or if the weight is too big,
they have special trolleys designed for the purpose.
I long since recognized this in my position as
Spokeswoman for the WorkCover Authority of NSW, and often wondered why
schools were pushing backpacks and not trolleys.
During our recent we have noticed that things
are suddenly started to change, and, thank goodness for the better!
As I was leaving one school here in the Bacchus
Marsh area, a group of Japanese exchange students were leaving the school at
the same time, and every one of them had a formal school-issued bag with
wheels and handle, and their school insignia clearly on the outside.
The particular style they had also had backpack
straps, but I did notice that NONE of the children were using them,
obviously preferring to use the wheels.
Now, parents might say their children will
refuse to wheel a trolley, but let’s face it, all it will take is a ‘change
of fashion’.
Parents may remember going to school themselves
carrying bags that were styled very much like an old fashioned brief-case.
School ‘ports’ as they were called in my home
state of Queensland soon disappeared in favour of the trendier backpacks.
Now in many schools we see ‘regulation’
school-issued backpacks. But, could this mean future lawsuits?
Once a school is aware of the studies reporting
the horrific 300% increase of injuries to school age children from
backpacks, they would certainly be negligent by ignoring scientist’s
warnings.
The solution is simple easy…and cheap! Small
luggage bags with trolleys are already on the market for very reasonable
prices (our local $2 store had them for sale for only $18) .
All it takes is for your parent and teacher
association to recognize the legal implications of allowing 12 years or so
of carrying books in backpacks…and the entire problem will cease to exist.
However, if your school continues to insist on backpacks, they may be doing
so at their legal peril!
Isn’t our child’s spine worth speeding up the
change?
