WATCH YOUR BACK

By ClareEmpica | Tuesday, February 23, 2010, 16:39

A Bristol-based safety expert has backed a plea by baggage handlers at Bristol International Airport for people to pack less in their luggage when going abroad.

The union UNITE called for the individual baggage allowance to be reduced for safety reasons but safety specialist Danny Street says passengers are just as much at risk themselves by packing heavy suitcases.

Baggage handlers have requested that the individual bag weight be reduced from 32kg to 23kg because bags are often manually lifted.

Danny Street, co-director at Acorn Health and Safety of Tower Lane, Warmley, Bristol says that by packing less the passengers will also reduce their own chances of injuring themselves.

He said: “Passengers forget that a lot of travelling when you go away involves you carrying and moving your bags around for a lot of the time and this can cause a lot of problems.

“Baggage Handlers are trained correctly to carry large loads but not everyone is which is why people’s holidays are ruined by back pain, pulled muscles or other injuries.

“If people are continuing to lift, bend and twist this will have an impact on their backs which could affect you in later life.”

Danny Street runs training courses in manual handling for businesses, including hospital staff who are trained to lift patients at Acorn Health and Safety’s training facility in Warmley, Bristol.

He said: “A lot of people ask how heavy is too heavy. We use a standard rule of thumb – if you have to strain to pick it up it’s too heavy.

“You can avoid handling heavy objects and packing less when you go away which will cause you and the baggage handlers a lot less pain!”