Charting back pain

At the Usdaw Annual Delegate Meeting in 2000 a proposition was passed urging the union to carry out research on the problems of back pain at work, particularly as it concerns women workers.

Download: Back Pain Survey Booklet

Date Posted: 1 November 2002

 

 

 

Produce guidance for negotiators on ways of dealing with the issue.

At the same time Usdaw was beginning to develop the use of a powerful tool called 'body mapping' which can be used to develop members' awareness of the health and safety concerns in their work situation and to identify practical solutions to any problems they face. A decision was taken to use body mapping techniques as a way of meeting the terms of the proposition rather than relying on yet another questionnaire based survey.

This report presents the results of the application of the body mapping technique with various groups of women members within Usdaw. It demonstrates the power of the technique in identifying the many factors that contribute to health and safety concerns for women workers in their work activity. More importantly, it shows there is a way of giving a voice to women workers about their concerns over work-related back pain that can help to develop practical solutions to the problems they face whatever the cause. It is that voice of the women in Usdaw that forms the basis of this report.

Charting back pain was correct at date of publication November 2002.