Frequently Asked Questions

As with other professional organisations, in order to process applications, National Back Exchange has had to levy a fee to cover administration costs, travel expenses for auditing and reviewing panels and for production of the certificates.

National Back Exchange cannot endorse, accredit or recommend products, services or courses. As a multi-disciplinary organisation, NBE has a responsibility to be seen to be objective and without prejudice.

National Back Exchange would advise that if individuals or companies would like their courses accredited, they should seek advice from their nearest University.

National Back Exchange has published Trainer Guidelines both at Foundation Level and Strategic Level. These guidelines provide readers with a specification for both a Manual Handling Trainer and Back Care Adviser. Copies of these guidelines can be found on the National Back Exchange website under Policies and Procedures.

A training needs analysis must be carried out to determine what level of training is required for any particular staff group. National Back Exchange has published a Document entitled "Essential Back Up" (2002), which identifies duration of courses.

For an induction course, a basic load handling or back awareness course should last approximately half a day and clinical skills should be a further half a day, (therefore a whole day for people handlers). A foundation course should ideally be two days, (which includes theory and load handling and clinical skills). However, all courses will be subject to local issues.

A copy of Essential Back-Up can be purchased from the NBE Administration office.

At the present time, there are no legal requirements for manual handling training although the Manual Handling Operations Regulations do require that employees be given information on Task, Load, environment and Individual capabilities; recognition of risk; safe working systems and use of equipment.

However, National Back Exchange has published Training Guidelines, which can be found on the National Back Exchange website under Policies and Procedures.

These set out the standard elements of a training programme, the training delivery, pre-training requisites and planning and recording.

Essential Back-Up recommends that staff who handle people, should receive annual training.

National Back Exchange is a multidisciplinary group for those with an interest in backcare and prevention of work related musculoskeletal problems. The organisation has approximately 1200 members who can all offer each offer, advice and support.

As a member of National Back Exchange, you can access the Members Only page of the NBE website, you will receive a copy of our quarterly journal, Column, you are able to join a local NBE group, all of whom hold meetings and study sessions. You will also receive a discount on our annual conference.

Claiming compensation is not something that should be taken lightly. It can be an arduous and expensive process. For advice, contact your local Union representative, if you are in a union, or a Solicitor who specialises in personal injury claims.

National Back Exchange does not run any Educational Courses outside of it's annual conference.

You should be able to find suitable providers close to you, on the internet. However, National Back Exchange cannot recommend or endorse any particular provider.