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Safer Handling of Loads at Work - A practical ergonomic guide by R Birnbaum, A Cockcroff and B Richardson with N Corlett. Institute of Occupational Ergonomics, University of Nottingham (2nd edn), 1993 (ISBN 9522571 0 6). IllUS. 31 pages. €7.50 phS Sop postage.

The first edition of this ergonomic guide was published in 1991 and at this time the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 were still at a consultative stage. The second edition has been produced to bring the contents of the guide in line with the current HSE guidance on the ergonomic assessments of manual handling.

The aim of this guide is to provide those responsible for the assessments of manual handling tasks with a 'readily learned method for the assessment of workplaces for safer handling'. It also then leads to the second stage of creating 'an action plan for change' based on the initial assessment. The fundamental ergonomic principle upon which the guide is based is that 'work will be done better if it is matched to the capacities of those who are requested to do it'. The component of a successful assessment is a well thought out, practical plan which highlights the significant risks easily, accurately and speedily. This guide is designed for that purpose.

A number of questions are posed and then answered throughout the text including: .Why is this guide relevant to

managers? 01s there a problem? .What can you do? 0 Why ergonomics? .What about management? .Why an assessment? .What situations require

.Who will benefit? assessment?

and the vital question OHOW do you start?

with a block of illustrations which act as visual examples of poor working conditions.

Having identified and quantified the risks, the final stage is to overcome the problems identified. As there are no hard and fast rules for correcting problems, because of their variety, the guide uses the illus- trations a second time to provide possible solutions to the problems already identified. The assessor is then taken through an action list which considers the physical organisational and workforce feat- ures of the task.

In the appendix there is a sample assessment record as well as a completed example, which is easy to follow.

A list of useful sources' of information is supplied for anyone needing further advice.

Like the fvet edition, this slightly amplified vemion is what it claims to be - a practical ergonomic guide. It is eaq? to read, underatand and put into practice for even a novice assessor. However, this guide should not be used unless the basic principles upon which it is based have been taught, as part of the assessor training programme It should be appreciated that this guide gives the assessor the formulae by which risks may be assessed but it cannot supply a definitive answer, because of the diversity of problems that are likely to be encountered. Christopher R Hayne FCSP MEQS

being divided into well-defined chapters. There is a brief summary of the relevant pointa and their relation to health care at the end of each chapter.

This is the second edition with sections on HIV/AIDS and talking with children being added, important issues in today'e society.

The fvet five chapters explore a range of theoretical itmu= what is counselling, psychological approaches, counselling and self- awareness, the basic principles and considerations and mapa of the counselling relationship

The later chapters bring counsel- ling skills into the realm of today's health care climate and explain haw approaches may need to be adapted.

There is an interesting chapter on how to deal with the emotional aspects of counselling, for both counsellor and client, and encourages the exploring and expression of these feelings. It ale0

Counselling Skllls for Health Professionals by Phirip Burnard. Chapman and HaJJ, London (2nd edn) 1994 ( I S N 0 412 56690 7). 264 pages fl4m

Theprincipal theme ofthis book is to give a basic understanding of counselling. It is aimed at health professionals who may be new to the CollQptofcounsellingorwhoreqUire an uDdate It encourams health care

points out how the inability to express our feelinga can result in further strew within our lives and how this atrectS others around us.

Fbllowing onfromthis, the ieeued dealing with problem within the counselling relationship ia raised. It deals with the strategies of coping with problems that may develq from both points &view; highlighb ing a need for awarenew of OUT awll limits and perceptions, and of the symptoms of 'burnout! The need for a network of support is noted.

lbwards the end ofthe book, there is a section on learning counselling

and how. It is ueeful to mention this aspect but not in somuch detail. This would perhaps be better suited to a book on teaching counsellink

The section on recording and confidentiality deserves a mention as it is a very impostant aspect. However, the infomation on com- puters and computer p~ograma is inappropriate here

This book would be a usefid asset to have in any hospital or college lib+ or individual health care

skills which g i v e s ~ l e s ofwhere

The guide then leads the assessor through a task, worker, workplace, job design and organisation in everyday practice daily work. checklist. This section is provided

p&o& to think&out the ways in which they w e counselling skills

It is well written and easy to read,

departments where counselling skills may be an integral part dthe

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