[Heather Cunningham]

Hello

I am brand new to this site (and to my current post). What better way to get involved than to ask some advice?

I work in an underground coal mine in the North Island of New Zealand. We have an aging workforce (me included) and they all seem to have lower back pain to some degree or another.

I think one of the contributing factors is the safety gear worn on a "back belt". The total kit weighs 10kgs (for emperical users this is 22 lbs), plus a hat weighing about 1kg (2.2 lbs). I would appreciate any comments, ideas or experience with dealing with this issue. The gear includes light battery, self rescuer, radio so cant just be abandoned. The men (an all male workforce) do not seem to like the idea of wearing a back pack!

Regards

Heather Cunningham

[Sharon]

Heather,

Do you know the weight of the specific items? There may be items available that weight less.

Is a vest with pockets for equipment a possibility? Like those used by photographers.

[Heather Cunningham]

Yes, I have the weights of the specific items and have investigated alternative self rescuers, battery packs and other items. There does not seem to be anything available here which provides the margin of safety without the bulk and weight.
I have tried to get men to wear gear on a Back Pack to distribute the weight without success. There is genuine resistence to that and gear has been quite badly damaged when in a confined space.

Originally posted by Sharon:
Heather,

Do you know the weight of the specific items? There may be items available that weight less.

Is a vest with pockets for equipment a possibility? Like those used by photographers.