B

By Michelle Crean

The weight and size of their school bags was the focus of attention in one school recently as students undertook a Manual Handling course.
The first school in Killarney to undertake the course, the Transition Year students in Killarney Community College learned all about pain, discomfort and poor posture when lifting and carrying heavy items.
Manual Handling training with the students focused on ergonomic risk assessment whether they are carrying school bags or when in the work place for work experience as part of their Transition Year activities.
Instructor Sheliah Nolan, from Kerry Health and Safety, covered a wide range of activities including lifting, pushing, pulling, carrying and repetitive tasks.
They also learned that worldwide, back pain is the single leading cause of disability, preventing many people from engaging in work as well as other everyday activities, explained TY coordinator Kerri McCarthy.
“The weight and size of our students bags are ever increasing,” she said.
“We felt that this course would provide students with the information needed to continue their studies and day-to-day activities without the risk of getting injured.”
Carrying a school bag is something all students have to do and is often associated with pain, discomfort and poor posture. However, there are simple things which parents and students can do to minimise discomfort, similar to the approach used in risk assessment in the workplace, she added.

“Students learned about the importance of exercise, movement and maintaining good posture.”
She added that overall the students were very surprised and pleased with the content of the course.

TY student Ben Howard said that it was very different to anything he learned in school this year.
“We take basic things like lifting our bags for granted,” he said.
“I now know how to protect myself and what to do when approaching physical lifting tasks both inside and outside of the classroom.”