'' Not as Pristine as You are led to Believe ''
A Blog Post that the UK Health & Safety Community should have read 27 years ago
Written by Osteopathic Solutions Director Gareth Milner BSc. (Hons) Ost.
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In this Louis Theroux style investigation we will be taking a journey of discovery, deep within Pristine Condition looking at The Good*, The Bad*, The Ugly* and The Ugliest* of this self-proclaimed ’World Leader' in Manual Handling.
*Notice the MAC Tool risk level colours there.
I was going to start this Blog with Pristine Condition's negligent comprehension of Squat Lifting, something we have been educating Health & Safety Professionals in across the UK since 2010; enhancing their awareness of what Optimal Lifting Technique is .... Physical Therapist credible.
Practice of Pristine Condition's teaching of Squat Lifting is of course better than a Stoop Lift (forward bending of the trunk with little or no knee bending) however during a Teams Meeting on our over 100,000 times viewed Blog post '' Challenging HSE Guidance on Safer Lifting Practice '', Occupational Osteopath Francis Connor said ....
Pristine Condition Manual Handling
‘Gareth, have you seen their CORRECT pushing practice … it’s Spectacular!'
Spectacular .... a few definitions. 1. Beautiful in a dramatic and eye-catching way. 2. Very exciting to look at. 3. Of, or like a spectacle; marked by or given to an impressive, large-scale display.
Only 'eye-catching' of those definitions quite describes Osteopath Francis Connor's use of SPECTACULAR. Of course, sarcasm (using the word Spectacular) is the lowest form of wit. But boy oh boy, did Francis grab my attention ... and this is why it should grab yours. Here is the Video Pristine Condition 'proudly' display* on their website. But brace yourself for The Ugliest. It’s so ugly what I am about to present, that every branch on the Manual Handling Ugly Tree was hit. *After this Blog goes live this Video will likely be removed. If you need it sent to you to view its horror, simply call us on 0845 299 3513 and we will do good by sending it to you.
‘Ready, Brace …. OMG!’
In the approaching 18 years I have been in Manual Handling and Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD) Risk Management, I have NEVER seen or come across such negligence in the teaching of Safest (for the musculoskeletal system) Manual Handling techniques.
It is about time the UK's Health & Safety Professionals woke up to the facts that Pristine Condition are Charlatans* when it comes to Manual Handling Training and Technique, and certainly as far away as Uranus** is from Earth with regards to their self-proclaimed 'World Leaders' in Manual Handling Risk Management.
*Charlatan, a person falsely claiming to have a special knowledge or skill.
**That's 2,992,629,720 kilometers (2.9 billion) away from the World.
The still below left detailing (correctly) INCORRECT technique is at 50 seconds of this Pristine Condition CAN YOU FEEL IT? Video. The still below right detailing (horrifically negligent) 'CORRECT' Technique is at 53-54 seconds of this Video.
Pictured to the left is Nick Washmuth, Professor in Physical Therapy at Samford University. In Professor Nick's Research Paper Lifting Techniques: Why Are We Not Using Evidence To Optimize Movement? on PubMed, Professor Nick consistently mentions Physical Therapists as the go-to Professionals in giving advice/ teaching best practice Manual Handling; Physical Therapists being Osteopaths, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists.
The pushing practice Pristine Condition state as CORRECT TECHNIQUE (above right), is as good as example as you will get with reference to Professor Nick's statement that Physical Therapists, and nobody else should teach people Optimal Manual Handling techniques.
Before I present my Expert, from a Qualified Osteopath's perspective on these pushing practices, I put this practice out on my LinkedIn page and this was the most accurate response from Peter Hodges, Risk Business Partner at C&C Group.
‘As for the picture there seems to me there is little postural alignment connecting hands to feet. Would suggest that most of the strain is in the back below shoulder blades.’
So we have a Professor of Physical Therapy stating Physical Therapists should be the go-to for delivering Manual Handling Training and a UK Qualified Health & Safety Professional (who has been involved in 2 Companies that have contracted 'Pristine Services') who clearly states 'There is little postural alignment ... most of the strain is in the back below shoulder blades.'
Now if we at Osteopathic Solutions proclaimed that we were 'World Leaders' (as Pristine Condition do) in Manual Handling Technique and Risk Reduction, I would be absolutely mortified if Professionals like Peter Hodges wrote such a statement. Mortified. With this '27 years overdue' publishing of this insightful and enlightening Blog about Pristine Condition, I expect their CEO and Founder Davy Snowdon might be mortified too. Actually maybe not. He has an MBE*.
*Majorly Big Ego.
Now we will take an Expert Biomechanics position on each of these pushing practices ... Physical Therapist style.
So first. The INCORRECT TECHNIQUE. Of course this is what our UK Team of Physical Therapists teach and engrain in people ... to avoid. Let's start from the bottom to the top. The feet close together, level. Bending through the hips and lower back. Minimal knee bending. Using bodyweight and the arm and shoulder muscles to push the load forward. Classic natural, hazardous (for the musculoskeletal system) pushing practice. A recipe for chronic neck and shoulder MSDs.
The Ugliest
Now, The Ugliest of all of Pristine Condition's techniques they so negligently teach. What they state is CORRECT TECHNIQUE. Let's hope they don't get employee 'buy-in*' on this. From the bottom to the top. Right ankle in turned in position (inverted). A recipe for ankle sprains and achilles tendonitis. Right twist (rotation) and bent in (valgus) strain in the right knee. A recipe for knee ligament sprains and cartilage tears. All the pressure through the left knee, ankle and foot. A recipe for knee tendonitis, achilles tendonitis and bunions. Twisted out right hip (externally rotated) and twisted in left hip (internally rotated). A recipe for hip ligament sprains and hip osteoarthritis. The compressional loading of the lower back (lumbar spine) and neck (cervical spine). A recipe for chronic disc degeneration and daily sciatica. The arms used with the elbows away from the body. A recipe for chronic shoulder muscle (rotator cuff) tendonitis and tears, and the debilitating condition 'Frozen Shoulder.' The only joints of your body NOT under strain are .... your Jaw Joints. Show this to ANY Physical Therapist across the World ... and their face would look like this (to the left).
*Thankfully Kuehne & Nagel Group's Instructors didn't. Well done to their Union for that.
When I saw Pristine Condition's CAN YOU FEEL IT? and this shocking pushing section, there was some computer game I used to play on our SEGA … I racked my brain for a minute and then it came to … Street Fighter with Hadoooooooken! If you loved playing this Console Legend watch it below. Don't you see the similarity in body posture and technique?
The Happy Gilmore Analogy
If you haven't seen Happy Gilmore, it is one of the funniest films to come over the pond. Happy Gilmore, an aspiring hockey player (played by American Actor Adam Sandler) joins the PGA Golf Tour to make some money to save his grandma's house. Here is the Film's trailer. Have a watch. It will bring a laugh to your day!
So let's take a look at Happy Gilmore's technique. He runs up to the ball and hits it. And remarkably he gets success. But of course, not quite Tiger Woods' (in his prime) biomechanical genius.
And it's very much like Pristine Condition. What they negligently teach, may have given Davy Snowdon some SME* success, however IS IT BIOMECHANICALLY RIGHT? Throughout this Blog ... try for yourself.
*Small Medium Enterprise. Basically small business.
Further on in this 27 years in waiting Blog we will be taking a further detailed look at Pristine Condition's Manual Handling technical incompetence and negligence.
It’s about time Health & Safety Professionals see through the fake charm of Davy Snowdon and beyond the muscle of his Ex-Army troops.
It’s about time Health & Safety Professionals and Procurement Teams question ‘Why are we paying a SUBSTANTIAL License Fee the following year, for a Video Product we have already paid for?’
It’s about time that Health & Safety Professionals who recognise Pristine Condition’s ‘One Trick Pony**’ and ‘Cowboy***’ service … start spreading this across their LinkedIn connections, helping people to prevent the debilitating Musculoskeletal Disorders Pristine’s negligence will cause (as just shown in the Mini Van pushing disaster).
It’s about time that Employees that have been brainwashed with the boringly repetitive ‘Use your Big Engines’ recognise that MUCH more is needed for them to prevent serious back injury.
It’s about time that Pristine Condition and Davy Snowdon step aside and leave it to Physical Therapist Subject Experts.
It’s about time.
*1997, 27 years ago when Pristine Condition were incorporated.
**The 'One Trick Pony' and 'Cowboys' statements were from Group Health & Safety Directors in 2024.
History.
Now a History Lesson. I know, what’s done is done isn’t it. Anyway, as you know the Manual Handling Operations Regulations were published by the HSE in 1992. So, we are in the year 2024. 32 years later.
If you take a quick internet search you will easily see that 99% of Manual Handling Training providers are 1. General Training Companies providing Classroom based Manual Handling and 2). Health & Safety Companies who do not specialise in any one subject. So, Jack of All Trades.
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Looking at the provision of Manual Handling Training in the UK, it still is very poor. With ZERO management in quality assuring providers by the HSE, any old Tom Dick and Harry can teach this, and appear by their website to be Experts.
Now let’s press rewind back to the 90s like we used to do with our Sony Walkman cassette player. Now imagine how poor Manual Handling Training was back in 1997. Maybe you don't need to imagine ... you will remember. And along comes this charming Ex-Weightlifter & Weightlifting Coach, who as the newspaper article says 'show binmen how to lift rubbish safely'. With what I will credibly present, from an Osteopath's Degree educated knowledge, in The Ugly and The Bad you can remove 'safely' from the newspaper's quote, with now 'show binmen how to lift rubbish.' And the 'rubbish' is not the black bags filled with peoples' waste .... you get me?
In 2007 I joined the Manual Handling Risk Management Business Osteopaths For Industry (OFI) due to an early 'retirement' from Osteopathy (you will hear why in the About the Author Podcast at the top of the page). Due to my foray into the World of Mortgages and Life Insurance, it came to fruition that I was pretty good** at Sales. My role at OFI was Sales and Business Development. At the time OFI were a good SME headed up by Janice Kaye, whom I overall got on very well with. OFI had Osteopaths and Physiotherapists as their Manual Handling Risk Assessors and Course Instructors. Although, with a more advanced and newer understanding of biomechanics than the OFI Senior Instructor Team, I knew some of the lifting practices taught had biomechanical errors. Over the next 3.5 years I helped Janice take a struggling business when I joined, to a SME business that was much, much stronger when I left in 2010. However, even though OFI had a good name, with Physical Therapists as their Training and Consultancy Team; Pristine Condition always won when there were direct tenders with OFI. Hence I knew this subject could be done better.
*Shit happens in life, doesn't it.
**Obviously not as great as Jordan Belfort, The Wolf of Wall Street.
I met Davy Snowdon at some rather obscure presentation for the Probation Service in Brighton around 2009.
When watching you could see the fake charm, the Salesman, the fraud. At the time, as a 28 year old young man, sitting at the Probation Service (and not a large UK conglomerate) I thought to myself ‘He is only doing this as he loves the adulation of the ‘crowd’ and loves the sound of his own voice, massaging his MBE.’
At this presentation, which is funny now, I even shook his hand, congratulating him on the success of his Small Medium Enterprise. Let’s be mindful of the word there ‘success’. Not quality of delivery. Professionalism or Expertise. Just success. Still at OFI, it baffled me that somebody with no Professional Expertise could pull the wool over so many eyes.
In 2010 I took a leap of faith and started Osteopathic Solutions Ltd.
In 2011 there was the start of 10 sites (over the coming few years) at Smurfit Kappa. We received many reviews from Site Health & Safety Managers and Course attendees that our ‘Training has been much better than Pristine’s’ until the Group Safety Manager took it upon himself without listening to the Site Managers, with an unfounded reason to stop our coverage of Smurfit Kappa sites. The Pristine brainwashed he was and still is. What successes in MSD Lost Time Accident reductions would they have had over the years with the support of a Team of Physical Therapists?
2014 Bakkavor ... I knew we were now a force to compete against the Pristine 'beast'. In 2014 the Group SHE Team at Bakkavor invited me to present Osteopathic Solutions. This was preceded by an Instructor Programme we delivered for Bakkavor's Yorkshire Fresh Fruit site, which received excellent feedback. I knew Davy Snowdon would be presenting (his charm), likely arriving in the Bakkavor car park in his £100,000 Range Rover. Undeterred, I gave my professional presentation in how we could benefit Bakkavor, on a national level*. A few weeks later, their Group SHE Director rang me informing we had been chosen. I asked him what were the reasons with him replying 'Gareth, you have a much more extensive programme that includes Employee MSD Assessments** and Medico-Legal Reports.'
*To date, Bakkavor still entrust in us to qualify Manual Handling Instructors and Expertly risk assess their factory Manual Handling tasks.
**A Professional Medical Service Pristine Condition have NEVER supplied as NONE of their Team are Physical Therapists and therefore NOT Musculoskeletal Disorder Experts.
As all Expert Sociopaths do, Snowdon threw his toys out of the pram sending us a letter that lied in writing that we had somehow accessed their Client contacts and that we had to pay them an unstated amount in damages. The only thing damaged was Davy Snowdon’s Majorly Big Ego (MBE). And if you have dealings with him, you will know it’s a gigantic ego. We still have this letter from Pristine’s Legal Sharks stimulated by Davy, if you want to see it. It makes for entertaining reading. We even sent it to a Psychiatrist for their Expert opinion on which personality disorder Davy Snowdon has. Their diagnosis was 'Antisocial Personality Disorder.'
In 2022, after 15 years in the Manual Handling and MSD Risk Management industry, and as a Qualified Osteopath, I penned my first* Book Sorry! We’re Closed. You can listen to a recent Podcast where I am interviewed by Garry Kelly about the Book on his brilliant Podcast Garry Talks. You can listen to the Podcast or watch the Video above.
*Come In. We’re Open! will be the second.
The Ugly
Now, The Ugly. As the title states, the lifting practice we will shortly rightly critique, is not as ugly as the Pristine Condition ‘Can you Feel it’ Video’s CORRECT pushing practice. Here is another Health & Safety Professional’s opinion of this practice.
As you know, regarding body position and use, with Manual Handling you must avoid a forward bend of your back and avoid twisting through your spine as much as you can to reduce the strain on your musculoskeletal system, and especially your back. Simple stuff? Agreed.
This question is for you … Pristine Condition contractor.
As in Catchphrase Roy Walker’s famous words ....
‘Say what you see!’
With a long pause I hear you say ….
‘G … g … Gareth, do I have to?
My reply … ‘Yes, go on!’
‘OK, but I hope it won’t get me into trouble?!'
My reply … ‘It’s between you and me.’
‘Before I ‘say what I see’, just one last thing. I hear Davy’s Team are Ex-Commandos! I think I can hear the helicopters
above me now. Sorry I must be imagining things. But with this Gareth, I am not imagining. I see Davy Snowdon clearly teaching this lady a lifting practice that involves a forward bend and twist. The practice that is forbidden in
the world of safe Manual Handling. That’s it Gareth, will you give me protection?’
‘Maybe. Go on, there’s more in there.’
‘I see her right foot, knee and hip turned outwards. I just tried that position when lifting and it was really uncomfortable, in fact it caused me a sharp pain in the knee.’
‘You’re doing well.’
‘I see her lifting with her back muscles.
When there is minimal bending through the knees, the muscles of the legs are NOT activated, therefore you c …. c …’
‘Say it!’
‘You can’t lift with your BIG ENGINES!!'
‘Well done. You did it! Don’t worry … Pristine’ Condition's Ex-Commandos who are now Training Executives
are too suited and booted these days, and too concerned daily about BIG ENGINES …. to go after you.
Davy and them might come after me … but that is not a concern.’
Pristine are well known in the UK Aviation industry having brainwashed and manipulated Group Safety Directors who are easily brainwashed and manipulated by the charming Davy Snowdon. I pity the people ‘on the ground’ who over many years have been taught such brazen negligence. I only hope their ‘buy-in’ has been ‘sold-out’ … for the benefit of their health for the rest of their lives.
*Remember one of The Sociopath's highest skills is charm. It's in abundance.
In this Davy Snowdon Appreciation Society* of a photo gallery, what Manual Handling do you see? It’s almost like one of those annoying CAPTCHA exercises.
*You have to wonder why there are no photos of his Training Executive Team on their website. Maybe Davy thinks, sorry, knows, nobody is as good as him. Check out this website. Photos of our Team (past and present) a plenty.
So, we’re back together. I see 2 examples. Top left. An awkward task, however still performed with an ignorance of simple biomechanics. A left rotation/ twist through the spine when it is possible to face the load square on. Simple principles there as you can see. Nothing complex from me there.
And bottom right. OMG! … the bottom right. Davy is only at it again. Twisting his spine while manually handling a load. Why the cage has been parked there? … God only knows. To put this picture on your website's main Manual Handling Training page … it’s baffling. It’s also baffling why many Health & Safety Professionals CANNOT see this negligence. I remind them … Manual Handling is MORE* than just ‘Use your (God Damn) Big Engines®**.’
*But being mindful far from being Rocket Science. You need to be Degree Qualified to teach or study that. Shame it’s not the same for Manual Handling in the UK. If that was the case this Blog wouldn’t exist … as Pristine Condition wouldn’t.
**Big Engines only has a Trade Mark. Talk about obsession. Here comes the 2nd LawSuit.
Referring back to the Appreciation Society picture gallery, otherwise I see Davy walking up steps, down steps, up an electricity pylon, and posing for the camera. On Osteopathic Solutions’ Manual Handling Courses pages you will see myself and the Team performing or observing Optimal Lifting, Carrying, Pushing, Pulling and Team Handling techniques and practices. It’s what you would expect from a Manual Handling Training website page … isn’t it?
And there you have 2 examples of The Ugly. Thankfully for Pristine Condition it gets better on our next technique appraisal with …. The Bad.
So why do Pristine Condition teach such biomechanically flawed and negligent techniques?
As you are still reading … can you ask yourself this question?
The answer to this, and now your question, is inherent within the next section … their Head Office and Instructor Team. The brains behind the negligence. But first The Wendy’s Analogy. Are you hungry?
Where's the Beef?
In the American, early 80s Wendy's Burger Chain TV commercial, three ladies check out the amount of beef patty in a burger. The bun is big, but as they lift the top off they all go into a frenzy, shouting … ‘Where’s the Beef?!’
Have a laugh and watch it.
I remember in the 90s, going to Wendy’s. I was a big fan of the McDonalds Cheeseburger and Burger King's Whopper. But curious if Wendy’s offering was better. And when at Wendy's, I lifted the top bun and .... there was the Beef!
I saw for myself. The Wendy's Burger had more beef than McDonalds and Burger King.
So this Commercial was clearly competitive in that they were actively mentioning McDonalds and Burger King, their main competitors, however they had factual evidence to say, you're not getting a good product with them. Wendy's have the better offering, and this is why. They were doing this in the 80s and there is no harm doing it in the 2020s, especially when Consumers need the facts, and are unaware of the facts.
With Pristine Condition it’s .... ‘Where’s the Negligent Techniques?’
There they are …. see for yourself.
Their Directors & Instructor Team.
Pristine Condition are the Kings of dressing things up to look better than they really are. Marketing spin-meisters.
Their LinkedIn page says they have between 51-200 employees. It's like ‘Where’s the Beef?’ … ‘Where’s the 51-200 employees?’ Another classic Pristine Condition lie and fabrication, to make them look better than they really are. There are 3 pages of employees on LinkedIn. If you do your sums correctly, that's WELL under 51.
We will be taking a detailed look at the profession background of David Snowdon MBE later ( 'Suits you, Sir!' ). We already know that he is NOT a Physical Therapist, of course, which he doesn't claim to be. However, he does claim to have Advanced Anatomy expertise. He has NO Degree Qualification that encompasses Anatomy, Physiology, Biomechanics, Orthopaedics and Neurology .... as a BSc Degree in Osteopathy, Chiropractic or Physiotherapy has.
Now let’s delve into the Qualifications and Business Experience of their Leadership Team. But just before … do you remember what Professionals Professor of Physical Therapy Nick Washmuth stipulates should give Manual Handling technique advice? If you don't know here is his email nwashmut@samford.edu
Adam Snowdon, Business Development Manager
Looking at Adam’s LinkedIn, he started with Pristine Condition in 2007 … but wait … what’s his surname? …. It’s Snowdon!!. I believe a Father should let their Son find his own place in Business life. It allows personal development and confidence. Adam Snowdon has no Degree in Physical Therapy (Osteopathy, Chiropractic or Physiotherapy). He is a Salesman … like his Father.
Danielle Mauthe, Business Development Manager
On her LinkedIn profile Danielle has no Degree Qualifications listed. Also her background just states Pristine Condition. I wonder if Pristine employees are allowed to put their past employment on LinkedIn. Wouldn’t be surprised if they weren’t. Danielle Mauthe has no Degree in Physical Therapy.
Charlie Budd, Media Production Editor
Before Pristine Condition, Charlie was a Sales Assistant at Skoda. In 2013, there was a big step up the ladder for him as he became Senior Media Production Editor. I personally feel for Charlie as he has to watch Davy Snowdon every day (with that smug, self-aggrandising smile) going on and on about 'Big EnginesTRADEMARK' and 'Stick to walk ways', you know that 'with a common sense approach' .... stuff, they sell. And Charlie's been doing that for 11 years. With that, he must dream 'GeordieRocketsTRADEMARK' in his sleep. Clearly from his LinkedIn picture, the Business Social Media Platform, he is good at racing. Charlie Budd as no Degree in Physical Therapy. If he has a bump in the racing car and has Whiplash*, which can happen, he will have to outsource a Physical Therapist …. as there are none in-house. *As a practising Osteopath, I clinically treated 100s of people which acute Whiplash from RTAs.
Michael Roberts, Head of Compliance & Lawyer
Michael is the most educated Executive at Pristine with a MA Hons Law. An intelligent Man. Pristine Condition will, and would have always needed an in-house* Lawyer. We will see why later.
*License Fee fights. Advertising Standards Authority replies. Sending letters to Competitors who win the supply … and they don’t. That sort of grimy Business stuff. Writing letters to Competitors underpinned by Physical Therapists ... We look forward to Michael's letter on 2nd September 2024. When we receive it we will publish it here. Let's predict how many times they say 'unprecedented.' This Blog will stay until Pristine Condition dissolves Michael, for the benefit of the whole of the UK and the tiny part of the USA.
Listed on Companies House there is Frances Trafford, Director. No LinkedIn profile exists for her. From Companies House the following have resigned as Directors … Denise Bowler, Carol Clark, Jessica Snowdon, Brian Humber. From an internet search none of these former Pristine Directors are or were Physical Therapists.
So, on the face of it Pristine Condition appear to be a legitimate, decent Small Business with a small number of Shareholders. A Director/ CEO. A Sales/ Business Development Team. A Finance Department. And an Operations Team.
With all Pristine Condition’s leadership Team, I am NOT saying they have poor Business Skills. Clearly, they don’t. But what I am saying is that ‘Where are the Physical Therapists?’ …. at Osteopathic Solutions Ltd …. That’s where they are.
What do Physical Therapists clinically treat? … Musculoskeletal Disorders.
What is Manual Handling Risk Management there to prevent? … Musculoskeletal Disorders.
If you suffer with a Musculoskeletal Disorder, say a chronic back or knee injury, who would you rather have teach you Optimal Manual Handling Techniques so that your injury is supported to get better ...
…. a Physical Therapist?
… or an Ex-Weightlifter (or Ex-SAS Storm Trooper)?
And the survey says …. a Physical Therapist.
The Pristine Condition 'Best of the Best' Training Executives.
Training Executives. Come on? I hope when they are onsite being Manual Handling Instructors, as that’s their Job Title; that they are not suited and booted. It would be difficult to ‘Use Your Big Engines’ if you wore a tight suit.
The Military. Paratroopers. The RAF. The Navy. The Special Boat Service (SBS) and the Special Air Service (SAS). I respect the Men and Women who serve for their Country. I respect the self-discipline they have. The strength of mind in the face of great danger. One of our Team Members Jonathan Taylor was in the Signal Corps and served in Iraq. He was responsible for communications after the zones had been made safe. And as you will recall, nowhere then was safe. Jonathan told me stories that were tragic. They of course stayed with him.
Jonathan Simmonds, who still ‘serves’ with Osteopathic Solutions … that sounded military, didn’t it? Jonathan was in the Navy. You remember the song. Jokes aside, Jonathan has told me of the amazing, far away places in the World where he served.
As a little boy, who didn’t love Action Force. I have always loved watching films like Rambo, Commando, Saving Private Ryan and the likes. I would love to have served in the Military. I believe as Teenagers, in the UK we should have to do 2 months of military service. But like my story of getting hit in the head after 20 seconds of paintballing, whilst diving for cover behind a fallen tree, it was best for my longevity that I pursued other Career avenues.
And summarising the last 3 paragraphs, my point is that I respect wholeheartedly anyone who has been in the Military.
However, the Pristine Condition Training Executives are Army Experts. They should stay in their Game.
Jake Holt, Training Executive
Jake was a Royal Marines Commando and served also in the Warwickshire Police Force. No Degree Qualifications are listed on LinkedIn.
Shane Crehan, Training Executive
Shane worked as an Engineer in the British Army, then into the Corporate World before staying in the Corporate World (51-200* employees) with Pristine Condition.
*Remember, a Pristine Condition Business Development & Marketing Team lie. Supported by Davy Snowdon.
Ruairi Van Raalte, Training Executive
Those South Africans. They’re tough Rugby players. Wow, he played for Wasps and The Hurricanes. I’m being serious there, as I am a Rugby fan and Ex-First Team Outside Centre at Dulwich College. Ruairi will understand Musculoskeletal Disorders. As he would have suffered them in his playing career. But will he know how to perform a Squat Lift optimally? Will he be able to give Expert Musculoskeletal Disorder advice from the factory employee, say about their back pain? Dubious at best. With Ruairi in the Training Executive Team, and NOT Ex-Military; now Pristine Condition CANNOT say all their Instructors ... are Ex-Military. For what that is worth.
Arri Pike, Training Executive
Arri Pike states he did a 2, possibly 3 year Course in Sport & Exercise Science, but it is not clear whether it was a Degree or not. It looks like a Diploma. Anyway, it would have contained little in Biomechanics. Arri is an Ex-Royal Marine Commando. Kudos to him for that.
Graeme Johnson, Training Account Manager
Graeme is part of their Head Office Team but as he is Ex-Royal Marine, I have included him in this section. A good question* for Graeme is ... 'When someone has a post-operative ankle fracture from a motor cycle accident, what prescriptive Lifting Technique would your Training Executives advise, when the inanimate load is low down on a pallet?' It's a good question that. Another good question for Graeme and his Training Executives is ... 'When someone has a disc injury in the neck, a herniated disc, what is the most advisable position of the neck at the initiation of the lift, to reduce pressure on the nerves and spinal cord**?'
Afford me one more ... 'Why Graeme, do your Training Executives teach such negligent pushing practice? It's black and white on this Blog?' As nobody at Pristine Condition is a Physical Therapist, remember an Osteopath, Chiropractor or Physiotherapist; wait for the 'Umms' and 'Errs', our 'unprecedented' results and 'We are World Leaders' and last but not least 'That Osteopathic Solutions, they are full of medical jargon.' It's time to see through that fabrication sales and marketing tripe.
*These Lifting questions are answered in our Expert Lifting Handbook. Yours for only £25 here.
**Do you see? Manual Handling is much more than 'Use Your Big Engines' ... but still not Rocket Science.
Craig Johnson, Training Executive.
Craig has a Diploma in Sport and Leisure. Let's hope he doesn't advise carrying heavy loads on the back like that!
His background includes being in the Police and most kudos=ly a Royal Commando. So he is a fit guy. I mean fit … you know … in the cardiovascular sense. Glad we got that ‘straight’ … I mean clear. Phew.
Craig Blakey, Training Executive
Craig is an Ex-Royal Marine Commando. More formally educated than most at Pristine, he has attained a couple of Diploma in Emergency Incident Management. Those Courses save lives. Again no Physical Therapy qualifications.
Andrew T., Training Executive
Andrew is Ex-Royal Navy. Maybe he knows our Jonathan Simmonds? Those Navy boys. Anyway, so far Andrew is ‘the best of the best’ at Pristine. A Qualified Health & Safety Professional.
But … and it’s a big BUT … in 18 years in this industry … apart from Health & Safety Professionals that have been upskilled in Manual Handling with us … I have not had one, yes one, Health & Safety Professional get a basic Squat Lift right … face to face … or over the phone with their technical description. Not one. Every time there is 2-3 critical errors in body position and use. Why? As none have qualified in the past as a Physical Therapist.
Tim Willoughby, Training Executive
Tim is Ex-Military. On his LinkedIn profile he states ‘Delivering first class manual handling training.’ With this he can’t be teaching that pushing practice you saw at the start of this Blog, you know, the one that will wreck every joint in your body. With that, Tim must be challenging Davy’s ‘expertise’.
I think that’s enough. There are a few more employees at Pristine, in the Management background, all more educated than Davy Snowdon. However yet again none are Qualified Physical Therapists.
And last, but not least in this Louis Theroux style investigation into their Team, here are the Pristine Condition Models. Instead of buying a nice on-trend Nike or Adidas hoodie, there’s always a Pristine hoodie instead. You would look cool in your personal time with the Pristine brand emblazoned for everyone (not in the Health & Safety Industry) to see.
Do you think the only people that would wear these are the 51-200* Pristine employees?
It’s ironic isn’t it, that Pristine Condition’s Team Photos are on our website … and not theirs. Here’s their Team Page (below left). That’s very sad that Davy Snowdon doesn’t want to showcase their Team, something at Osteopathic Solutions … we have always done. Don't you find it sad also that there are no photos of his Team performing Manual Handling tasks. It's all him. I wonder if this is because he isn't confident that they will meet his 'greatness'. What reason do you think it is?
*Remember that’s how many employees they lie they have on LinkedIn.
Sorry my phone’s ringing. It says from the USA. Who must it be?
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NW ... ‘Hey Gareth. What’s up? It’s Professor of Physical Therapy
from Samford University, Nick Washmuth.'
GM ... ‘Hello Nick.’ …
NW ...‘Where’s the Physical Therapists? This Pristine Condition, they must be Cowboys like we have in the West of our great US of A?'
GM ... ‘I know Nick, they have fooled so many over the last 27 years ...
Are you bugging me?’
The Sports Star Analogy
Over the years there have been many Sport Stars across the World who have excelled at one Sport, won Championships, Cups, Awards, become World or Country famous; and have decided to ‘chance their arm’ at another sport.
Back in 2015 at the Rugby Union World Cup, Stuart Lancaster made the decision to bring Rugby League convert Sam Burgess (pictured) into the squad and team.
I am a Bath Rugby fan. In Rugby League Sam Burgess was all conquering at the Bradford Bulls and the England Rugby League Captain. But at Bath, due to his natural learning curve in Rugby Union, technically a very different sport to Rugby League, Sam rather struggled to make the expected impact. He was changed from the scrum position of Flanker to the backs at Centre position.
And when it came to the World Cup in 2015, predictably Sam failed to make an impact, and with many other factors, England crashed out of the World Cup at the Group Stage. Immediately after this, Sam Burgess returned to his beloved Rugby League.
This was a great example of where an Expert in one field, has ‘chanced their arm’ at another field; making mistakes along the way, that are simply going to happen as it is new to them and they are novices, possibly on the way to new Expertise, or possibly not.
In the World of Business, unless we are Experts in a field, we should ALL stay in our game.
The Alcoholics Anonymous Analogy
At AA groups, the chair of the session is normally a reformed alcoholic. In American Brothers Dan and Chip Heath’s phenomenal Book Made to Stick* in the Credible Chapter they discuss Authorities on a subject, and Anti-Authorities. Of course people who are novices in a subject, will always listen to people who are subject Experts, the Authority. However the Anti-Authority can be very important.
So at AA groups the reformed alcoholic, the Anti-Authority, can help the people who are there, to make their lives better again.
But … and again it’s a big BUT, what if those people go and see a Qualified Professional. A Psychiatrist with Cognitive Brain Therapy skills. As much as 21st century science allows, a 21st century Expert in how the brain works, thinks and dysfunctions. An Expert in addictions.
Therefore, I pose the question … what results would the person get with their reduction or cesation of drinking with a Professional Expert, like a Psychiatrist specialising in addictions?
The results with the AA group Anti-Authority could be good. A reduction in the number of binges. A reduction in the overall consumption of alcohol. Especially spirits. But of course, this reduction has other factors. Family support. A need to spend less money. The social stigma et cetera.
So, with these other factors working away in the background, what reductions and overall benefits would the person get with the Psychiatrist specialising in addiction, and especially one who has had an alcohol addition themselves.? Therefor a True Expert in the field.
And with Manual Handling, could you have remarkable reductions with a Manual Handling & MSD Risk Management Expert … instead of only good reductions with the Manual Handling ‘Self-Proclaimed’ Training Expert? A question worth thinking about.
The Bad.
Before we take a simple, but comprehensive investigation into The Bad of Pristine Condition’s remarkable delusion of teaching the World’s Best Manual Handling Techniques, let’s have a reminder of how I can write such insightful and factual content on this subject. It isn't 'floating my boat' ... Davy Snowdon style, it is just fact. I am Qualified Osteopath as you know already. A Qualified Osteopath like Giovanni Bruno, pictured to the right adjusting the lower back of one of his patients, and with us at Islington Council teaching Optimal Lifting techniques that are Made to Stick in the minds of people attending his Courses.
At the European School of Osteopathy, Biomechanics study and thinking flowed through our arteries and veins every day. Through weekly lectures given by Physical Therapist Lecturers with Masters Degrees to Professors from the USA. Examinations each term and end of year. If you didn’t become an Expert in Biomechanics you didn’t become an Osteopath. I remember being fascinated about the remarkable control the brain had on different muscle groups, firing electrical activity to contract one muscle which pulled on a specific bone, then the firing of more impulses from the brain, down the spinal cord, out at the specific spinal nerve, down the nerve pathway to electrify another muscle that pulls on the same bone, to create another angle of pull, perhaps to create a mechanical advantage. Amazing stuff. The coordination of electrical and chemical energy to create movement of a joint. At Uni, my go-to Biomechanics text was Joint Structure & Function by Levangie & Norkin. Apart from my Anatomy textbooks, I lived and breathed this book applying the most up to date Biomechanics to clinically treat the people who consulted me in the Student Clinic.
Whether it's our Team Member Giovanni Bruno, myself or any Osteopath across the UK, there would be a consistent agreeance on what we are about to present, in that the Leader of Pristine Condition Davy Snowdon has a very, very poor grasp on Human Biomechanics. Join me in this damning evidence.
The Bad - Evidence 1
First up this Food factory task. This image appears on the Pristine Condition website. The task appears to be a fitting of a metal object. There is a food tote behind but it doesn't appear to be the load moved.
Anyway, what body positioning and body use do you see? Both feet and hips are externally rotated (turned outwards) placing compressional strain on the hip joints, as they are forced into their front ligaments. Pointed to by these arrows.
When you force the ball of the hip into its front ligaments, what happens over time is wearing down of the soft cartilage covering the hip's ball. I can hear a private Orthopaedic Surgeon typing away at his computer booking his 5-Star holiday to the Maldives now, with all those end stage hip osteoarthritis cases that lie in wait for him with all the employees Davy Snowdon's Team (and him) have taught this hip position whilst manually handling loads since 1997.
The task above does look awkward, however the spinal position is one of a forward bend, and left side bend. It is the neck position that is of an Osteopath's primary concern, with all that strain on the neck and shoulder muscles with the neck bent forward. When you construct a website and your chosen field is Manual Handling, you take every attention to detail that the photos displayed feature postures and techniques that won't cause lower back and neck disc injuries. What happened here?
The Bad - Evidence 2
Don't get me wrong. I love this type of Video. Taking this subject into our real lives. In my #HealthAndSafety #ProfessionalDevelopment Book Sorry! We're Closed I included Tip 36 - Home in on Tasks. You can listen to this to the right. You can purchase the AudioBook here.
Back to Pristine Gardening 'Perfect Technique' Video. Instead of looking at what Davy's body position and use is, I will talk about what I would do if I was filming this part of this Video. Firstly, I would NOT look at the camera when lowering the empty bucket. In doing this, you are backward bending your neck placing unnecessary strain on the neck and shoulder muscles (especially trapezius shown below) as well as on the neck joints. As a Leader in safer biomechanical use of your body, you want to showcase this all the time, and not forget it on Videos like this. I would lower the bucket with 2 hands so that the centre of the bucket is in the centre of my stance, being shoulder width apart with such a small and lightweight object. What is Davy doing?
'' Ideal addition to your bookcase as a Health & Safety Practitioner. ''
Graeme Woodman Tech IOSH
'' Really really useful. For Supervisors going up the ranks, having more responsibility Sorry! We’re Closed improves their knowledge in Manual Handling & its risks.
The stories really help you remember its core message & central themes. ''
Geoff Banks, Operational Safety Officer
Wakefield Council
'' I have started reading Sorry! We're Closed & liked it from the moment you said rule #2 – Take it f’in seriously, so I’m sure there will be plenty of sound practical advice inside. ''
Andrew Powell
Health, Safety & Environment Manager
2 Sisters Food Group
Lowering with one arm, placing the centre of the bucket nearer the left foot causes a forward bend and left twist of the lower back, the last movement it is wanting you to do. The movement that keeps Osteopaths, Chiropractors and Physiotherapists in business. And here Davy is at it again, performing practices that are simply body unaware. The last thing you would think an Ex-Powerlifter would do. Wouldn't you? As an Osteopath every day you are consistently mobilising and manipulating peoples' necks; releasing muscle spasms in the trapezius muscle. And here you have a self-proclaimed 'World Leading' Manual Handling Practitioner doing ...... what a novice would do.
There are good pointers about forward bending and twisting both standing and when kneeling but, I can only think a drop in concentration, because he then lowers the bucket with a forward bent AND RIGHT TWIST! This baffles me, and it should baffle you, especially if you use his Company or are thinking about it. If he can't get it right, what about his Ex-Military Team? Who are not Personal Trainers like Davy. What chance do they have?
I will actually be honest* in this Video, this is the first demonstration (in the 18 years I have been in this industry) that I have seen Davy Snowdon demonstrating some good biomechanical principles. The hand outstretched to support the weight (although you won't always have trees stumps around you) and the lunge position. That's better.
*And stop Davy bashing for a few seconds.
**I have been throughout this Blog so far. But brutally honest. Which in life is needed much more. You know the saying 'honesty is the best policy.'
To the right, what do you notice about the weight bearing through the legs? When lowering the pot to the table, there is the weight of his head, arms and trunk (two-thirds of bodyweight) as well as the pot weight through his right hip. The hip ball is compressed into the right hip socket. What's this a recipe for? Chronic every day hip pain that is only relieved for a hip replacement. Davy should know as he is approaching that age. Although it is a low risk task for musculoskeletal strain, he is actually pulling out strain, when it shouldn't have existed. Simply have the feet level and weight bear them 50:50 ..... 'Bob's your Uncle .... Davy.'
This Video goes from bad (the black and white with character acting), to better to the damn right awful. Take a look at the lifting practice below left. I am trying to hold back the critique, but as an Osteopath ... it is impossible.
Here is an extensive biomechanical analysis of this, as simply as it can be written. The load is to the right side of his stance. We have gone into the foot, knee and hip strain that the turned out right leg causes already. Remember my insightful 'Challenging HSE Guidance on Safer Lifting' Blog. The right arm is OUTSIDE of the right knee. This causes a right side bend in the lower back, which puts compression on the right 5th lumbar joint (L5-S1 Facet Joint shown below) and overstretches the left sided lower back muscles and ligaments. As well as causing a bulge in the 5th lumbar disc towards the left side of the spinal cord. Also the weight bearing is towards the right foot. Putting strain on the right knee. A joint us Osteopaths treat EVERY day in clinic. After this demonstration he rightly says 'it's the pushing down of the floor (with both feet) that ensures the perfect lift.' That's correct if you get the basics right. Davy doesn't.
Now we will look at pushing. In this same Video 'dip and drive' is mentioned. This is a key principle of Optimal Pushing Practice. However depending on the load grip i.e. which height the handle/ coupling is at in relation to your elbow level, the name of the game is to do your darn best to keep your back upright, maintaining your natural spinal curves. Of course, you are manually handling a load. There is a physical load and strain on your body. Now compare Davy Snowdon's back position to mine*, pushing the same load. Which spine is upright? And I have weight in my wheelbarrow. I rest my case.
*Taken from our Council Services Manual Handling Training Video Box Set.
The sensational thing about this Video is Davy Snowdon's period acting skills. No, only joking. It's actually before it has even started. You will see it below. 'PERFECT TECHNIQUE.' I will repeat so you don't think you are tripping on drugs.
'PERFECT TECHNIQUE'
From what I have just presented on this Video, do I need to add anything to that?
Instead of saying 'Watch our ....' It should say ....
'WATCH OUT! The majority of these techniques are NOT BackSafe!'
It could also be ... 'Watch out Alan Titchmarsh. Your job's NOT safe. I have an MBE.'
Davy .... so does Alan.
The Bad - Evidence 3
Moving on from all things BBC's Ground Force.
Now this task in a factory store room with Davy Snowdon. Pristine go on about the key principles*. And they should. Here’s how we define them. 1. Keep the load close. 2. Face square on to the load. 3. Bend through your hips and knees. 4. Use the powerful leg muscles. 5. Maintain your Spinal curves.
You don’t need buzz words. You just need credibility of having a Team of Osteopaths that make these principles STICK.
*These key principles are how we phrase them and apply to Lifting, Lowering, Pushing and Pulling and of course not Carrying.
So, it’s a simple task of lifting (or putting back) a lightweight drum at an ergonomically ideal position. What can go wrong? Which of the principles above (applicable to the fact the handling is at chest height) is Davy Snowdon NOT performing? You guessed it …. sorry wrong phrase. You don’t have to guess …. It’s staring you in the face.
2. Face square on to the load. The feet are facing the left corner of the racking, and every spinal joint up the lumbar spine (the lower back), the thoracic spine (the mid-back) and the Cervical Spine is …. TWISTING. Yes, putting 100% unnecessary strain on the key areas of our backs, the joints at the base (L4/L5 and L5/S1) and the joints at the lower neck (C4-C7). These practices are why people consult Physical Therapists. And yet again Davy proudly displays this on his website. With a back spasm this is a movement as an Osteopath we advise our patients NOT to do. Therefore, if this movement creates more pain in someone who has an acute back injury, then what physiological affects is the movement having on the muscles, ligament, tendons, discs, joints and nerves? I will give you the answer. It is straining them.
If this damning presentation of shockingly negligent Manual Handling practices was in a Court of Law, the Jury would now declare ….
‘We find Pristine Condition and its CEO and Founder Davy Snowdon MBE, guilty on ALL counts
of Manual Handling Negligence. We sentence him to a 4 Year Degree in Osteopathy.*’
Even though the Trial is over; and the verdict has been delivered, we move on as I sense some of the audience who have used Pristine Condition for many years, and have succumbed to the Snowdon charm and act, still need convincing of the Jury’s declaration.
*At an Osteopathy School. Where he can learn human biomechanics … Expertly.
Pristine Condition talk about bringing Olympic lifting to the workplace. When I was a teenager and in my early 20s, I lived the Bodybuilder life. Arnold Schwarzenegger was my Idol. 5 days a week heavy weights. 120kg of 8 reps of Deadlifts*. 110kg on my shoulders and 8 reps of squats. I recall many a time when I would rush to the toilet and vomit, after the sheer physical effort of that last rep. Heavy stuff, putting immense strain on my young body. In my teens I didn’t know about Biomechanics. As I progressed through my Osteopathy degree, my practice of such heavy weights, its volume and intensity significantly reduced as my knowledge and expertise about musculoskeletal disorders and their Clinical Treatment grew.
So with enough experience of the Weights/ Bodybuilding Gym, I racked my brain as to what Squat Lifting practices there are, and I came up with these.
1. Squat Lifting Barbell.
2. The Clean and Jerk.
3. Lifting dumbells from the rack, a bench or the floor.
No 1. and 2. Putting it mildly, are bad for your back. Oh ok, I will ramp that up. Squat Lifting with a heavy barbell on your shoulders will cause significant damage to your neck and lower back.
Disc degeneration, prolapses. Nerve entrapment. Osteoarthritis. Spondylosis. Spinal stenosis. Lots of medical terms there. I will keep it simple and summarise … an irreparably damaged spine that gives you daily, severe pain only made better for narcotic painkillers, alcohol and a rigorous daily rehabilitative programme. Next the Clean and Jerk. Just take a look at this Video below. Never going to be good for the back that one is it? Lifting dumbbells is awkward too. They force you to grip with one hand which enforces a spinal twist when lifting. I hear you saying ‘What is your point Gareth?’
'MY POINT IS THAT SAFE LIFTING IN THE GYM DOES NOT EXIST. THEREFORE OLYMPIC WEIGHT LIFTING 'TECHNIQUES' MUST NOT BE BROUGHT INTO THE WORLD OF INDUSTRY. THEY SHOULD STAY IN THE GYM AND ON THE POWERLIFTING COMPETITION STAGE.'
Fair point this. Don’t you agree?
The Bad - Evidence 4
Let’s take a further look at what Pristine Condition teach for lifting. On their home page we have Davy Snowden performing a team lift. Do you remember earlier that the HSE state ..… ’Keep your head up when handling. Look ahead not down at the load once it is held securely.'
As you will see in the below Mr Snowden (on the left below) is doing just that. But what does this mean for the neck?
It means* ...
- Neck muscle strain/ spasm
- Neck joint 'facet lock'/ Somatic Dysfunction
- Early Neck joint Osteoarthritis (X-Ray shown below)
- Neck Nerve Root Compression giving Arm 'Sciatica'
- At the very worst Spinal Stenosis
... CHRONIC, EVERY DAY, SEVERE NECK PAIN!
*Remember, I am a Qualified Osteopath. Credible.
You will recall at Osteopathic Solutions we have a 'Lifting Prescription'. Lifting advice for the Individual being taught. We will see later the neck position we recommend for People who have suffered a Neck Disc Herniation, a debilitating condition I suffered from during my 20s and early 30s.
Let's now move onto the Base of Support Pristine Condition non-prescriptively teach. A one size fits all. Firstly click the photo gallery immediately below before you read on.
Pristine Condition adopt the HSE Guidelines. They claim to bring Olympic Lifting to your working environment. We saw a few minutes ago Olympic Lifting should stay in the gym and on the Olympic Powerlifting Competition stage. Pristine Condition teach HSE negligent guidance.
Gallery Photo 1. The feet are shoulder width apart. More narrow compared to Elite Force Safety. The feet are going off in opposite directions. A Pristine recipe for medial knee ligament sprains and cartilage tears. Coming from the Powerlifting background, there is more use of the back muscles to lift, compared to Elite Force Safety. Of course, the back muscles do have strength. They can be trained in the gym to be powerful. However there is an insufficient squat. If you have opened your Eagle Eyes, you will notice a spinal twist to the left.
Gallery Photo 2 & 3. A spinal twist and side bend to the right. Lack of moving the feet. This is how you would expect an Operative to handle this load WITHOUT being trained in Manual Handling.
Gallery Photo 4. This poster is most interesting. Inside Base ... only achievable for most loads with the feet slightly wider than shoulder width apart. Big Engines ... In Gallery Photo 1, the Big Engines are not being used sufficiently. The width of the feet are slightly wider than shoulder width apart. What are they teaching with the base of support foot position? There seems to be conflicting advice. The HSE guidance is shown with the feet off in opposite directions. Turn Not Twist ... in Gallery Photos 3 & 4 are ... Don't move your feet and side bend and twist. That certainly wouldn't be stated on their Marketing/ Training posters.
So wrapping up The Bad ... with this level of knowledge of Human Biomechanics, if this was me at the European School of Osteopathy .... I would have failed my 1st Year Biomechanics module. It's that plain and simple. This level of Biomechanics knowledge is awful ... but with the arrogant claim of being an Expert in the subject. The worst claims in life are the ones when people claim to be so good at something, but they stink at it.
With so much Bad, Michael Jackson's hit springs to mind. Have a break from all this insightfulness and enjoy the watch!
The Cod Liver Oil Analogy
Back pain is never just from one structure. Generally low-level back pain is from strained muscles and tendons*, and sprained back ligaments**. More severe back pain that is chronic, involves these same soft tissue structures as well as spinal disc damage which can cause nerve and spinal cord compression, leading to high levels of back pain, as well as pain down the rear of the leg, if the lower back discs are damaged.
A 43 year old woman suffers back pain. It has progressed during her 30s and now she feels it every day. 2 months ago she took herself to a Pilates Class delivered by a Physiotherapist. In the Class she learnt many exercises to mobilise and stabilise her musculoskeletal system.
*Tendons connect muscles to bone across joints.
**Ligaments join bone to bone across joints.
She started to practise these exercises every day. Her job involved a lot of laptop work which she found aggravated her symptoms. One weekend, she was walking in her local High Street where she saw an advert for FREE Spinal Assessments by the Town’s Chiropractor.
At the Consultation, the Chiropractor informed her that her lower back 5th lumbar joint, already a key pivot point of the spine, was having to move more than normal as her lower mid-back was very stiff, affected by the slumping whilst using a laptop every day.
The Chiropractor recommended some additional stretching and Pilates exercises that she hadn’t seen at the Pilates Class. After this consultation, she invested in a new desktop computer and a saddle chair.
For her birthday her Husband bought her some new ASICS® trainers as they planned to train for a half marathon. She wore these every day as they were really comfortable.
One morning at home, Osteopath Dr Nadia Alibhai (pictured below) was on ITV’s This Morning discussing Back Pain. During this the Osteopath discussed the health benefits of Cod Liver Oil as well as its anti-inflammatory benefits for joint pains. Straight away she ordered 3 months' worth of Seven Seas Cod Liver Oil.
Each morning, when the stiffness was most apparent, she took the recommended 2 x 5ml teaspoons. To her astonishment, a week later her back pain had gone. She took to the internet reviewing the Seven Seas product as ‘a miracle cure.’
Ok, let’s take a look at this story. She had suffered with lower back problems for over a decade. As the pain had started to become daily, with some severe back spasm bouts and sciatica (referred pain down the rear of the leg), over the course of 6 months she had started a number of interventions. The daily Pilates and stretching. The shock absorbing ASICS® trainers. Her improved working ergonomics. These were helping, but she still had days when her lower back ached, but no bouts of sciatica. And then the Cod Liver Oil, which she rather blindly decided was the only reason her back pain went.
If your business has contracted Pristine Condition, and you have had reductions in Lost Time Accidents (LTA) from MSDs, please ask yourself ...
What other interventions were going on at the same time?
When the last LTA count was made, what period of time elapsed until their Training Programme?
During this period, what possible other factors contributed to the reduction in Manual Handling LTAs?
If there were no other interventions by your Health & Safety Team, being mindful any Manual Handling Training Programme will raise awareness of avoiding forward bending and forward bending and twisting lifting practices. But, what reductions would you get if an Osteopath, Chiropractor or Physiotherapist was conducting the Bespoke Manual Handling Training Programme***?
***Professor Nick Washmuth (pictured to the left) states that Physical Therapists (Osteopaths, Chiropractors, Physiotherapists) should be the only Professionals giving Manual Handling advice. You can read his PubMed Research Paper 'Lifting Techniques: Why Are We Not Using Evidence To Optimize Movement?' here.
At Islington Council* the Department Managers notice that when it has been a while that their department has had Refresher Manual Handling Training, they notice an increase in Manual Handling Injuries and Lost Time Accidents (LTAs). So they bring us back. And following the Refresher Training they notice a drop in these Injuries and LTAs. Although it would be easy for us to take all the kudos for this, we don't, because we know there are many factors going on behind the scenes that are adding up ... or better phrased, subtracting the MSD Injury and LTA figures. Health & Safety Professionals may be doing Manual Handling Risk Assessments that we are not informed of. Employees maybe themselves, taking more responsibility for their health outside of work since an Injury or LTA. Our intervention of Refresher Training is part .... of the BIGGER picture.
*Islington Council has called upon our services since 2014. To the left, Occupational Osteopath Giovanni Bruno is teaching a Team Squat Lift, then carry, then Team Squat Lower ... Optimal Handling style.
As a thank you for reading this far, you can purchase our Manual Handling Training DVD Videos for only £25 (click the black tab payment link below). That's a tenth of its normal price of £250.
With this you can compare Optimal Lifting, Carrying, Lowering, Pushing, Pulling and Team Handling practices with what Pristine Condition teach. If you visit an Osteopath, Chiropractor or Physiotherapist, this £25 is half their fee, and will go a long way when practising Optimal Handling Techniques every day, to reduce your back pain; if you are the 1 in 6 of UK people who suffer back pain. Rather like the 'Where's the Beef' Analogy ... you can test for yourself; the negligence of their 'World Leading' Techniques, or our Optimal Handling Expertise. See for yourself.
'' The quality is excellent throughout, and it’s very useful to see lifting procedures that are relevant to many manufacturing sites around the country that the trainers can relate to. The DVD will make a great addition to our health and safety induction programme within the company ''
Andrew Donovan
Health, Safety & Training Officer
The Bury Black Pudding Co
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