“WORKPLACE INJURIES TO KNEES ARE NOT


UNCOMMON. IT IS SAID THAT ONE KNEE INJURY IS ATTRIBUTED TO ABOUT 15 DAYS AWAY FROM WORK.”


the knee surface and therefore absorb dirt. These forces are extremely destructive and damaging to tissue and can lead to impaired blood flow, pain, and pressure sores.


Excess body weight is, not surprisingly, an added risk factor, so maintaining a healthy weight is a good idea all round!


If it is at all practical, move and change postures frequently – static postures decrease blood and nutrient flow to the tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bursa.


The key precaution to preventing knee and, often as a result, skeletal injury, is to choose the correct type of kneepad. A great deal of research has been made into the design and construction of this specialist item of PPE over the last few years, especially by companies such as Redbacks Cushioning Limited’s SATRA award-winning Redbacks non-foam/non-gel knee pads which feature a soft and flexible TPE (Thermo Plastic Elastomer) leaf-spring set within a unique honeycomb matrix. This ‘Redbacks Cushioning Technology’ distributes body weight evenly, elevating the knees to relieve back pain


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and reduce pressure on knee, leg, ankle and foot joints, whilst minimising the risk of possible injury from sharp or penetrating objects. In effect, the kneepads auto-adjust to the user’s weight and thereby to the amount of force applied, meaning that each kneepad becomes individual to its own user.


CEO of the company, Cliff Lockyer, said: “Based on the fact that there are currently over 104,000 annually registered knee operations by the NHS, 50% of which are accredited to occupational hazards, in 10 years’ time the total figure will exceed over a million people in the UK alone, many of whom will have damaged knees through inadequate protection whilst kneeling.


“In addition to the unnecessary pain and suffering, the self-employed risk losing their income through injury and the prospect of litigation will be a real threat to employers for not providing the best possible safety measures for their employees”


www.redbackscushioning.com — 19 —


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