Editor, UBM

October 19, 2015

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World champion power lifter to give seminar at Safety Network Live

 

Darren Kerr

Darren Kerr

At 3M’s Safety Network Live, taking place tomorrow, Darren Kerr, world champion power lifter will be giving a seminar on musculoskeletal disorders and poor manual handling. 

In all workplaces, whether it is the healthcare sector or construction, employees are often at risk of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

While aches and pains may not seem like the biggest concerns for employers, work-related MSDs are the cause of an estimated 11.6 million lost working days a year.

MSDs include any injury, damage or disorder of the joints or other tissues in the upper/lower limbs or the back, which can be caused from a range of factors, such as poor manual handling.

At Safety Network Live, health and safety engineer at 3M, Darren Kerr, will be raising awareness of the issue and offering advice to ensure all employees can take precautions against these risks.

And we can take his word for it, as Darren is not only an expert in MSDs in his professional capacity – in his spare time he is a world champion power lifter.

“When picking up a box of paper from the floor at work, I would apply the same principles as I would when lifting 38-stone of weight,” Darren explained.

“It is important people are aware of their posture, how to squat when lifting from the floor and about getting up and moving around if they have been sitting for too long. It may sound like a cliché, but we only have one body so we must do our best to take care of it.

He added: “These types of injuries do not only affect the workplace, they can have a detrimental impact on the entire life of the person involved. I have always taken part in sports outside of work and if I was to ever injure myself because I lifted something without proper care and attention, this would prevent me from doing the things I love.

Speaking about his seminar taking place at 3.30pm, Darren said: “I’m really excited about Safety Network Live as we will be bringing so much knowledge and expertise together for one day. I hope to make my talk slightly different and not like most health and safety seminars; it will be quite interactive so make sure you drop by.”

This will be one of many fun and informative events taking place at Safety Network Live, which is being supported by Safety and Health Practitioner, at the 3M head office in Bracknell next week.

On the day, visitors will also get the chance to witness a mock trial staged by international law firm Pinsent Masons.

Other activities taking place at the free-of-charge event include drama-based safety training, a face fit testing clinic and advice on how to boost productivity through health and safety excellence.

Sign up to attend Safety Network Live, taking place on Tuesday, 20 October.

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