SAFE BASE
Action to reduce injuries to dog handlers, pilots

By Graham Davis and Leesha Furse

AC Heath Webber and Military Working Dog Motse conduct attack work at RAAF Base Pearce.

Photo by CPL Gary Dixon

Getting hit at around 36km/h by a 40kg trained attack dog and exposure to G-forces during flying training can both take a toll on the body.

Which is why Military Working Dog Handlers (MWDH) and trainee pilots at RAAF Base Pearce are to receive a little extra help to deal with on-the-job injuries.

This stems from the work of base physiotherapist Phillip Dee, a Reserve Flight Lieutenant, and Senior NCO Physical and Remedial Training Sergeant Doug Stewart, who became aware of a relatively high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries, especially shoulder injuries among MWDHs.

“During an attack the MWDH will have the animal on his or her arm but off the ground as he or she tries to ‘decelerate’ the initial attack, while controlling their own body’s momentum at the same time,” SGT Stewart said.

“As a result we were seeing shoulder, upper back, lower back, knee and ankle problems. Mr Dee and SGT Stewart raised the issue with the MWDH’s Senior NCO, the Security Police Officer and the Senior Medical Officer, then investigated ways to reduce the risk of injuries to the handlers.

Action at Pearce to reduce injuries

The RAAF Security and Fire School at Amberley, which trains MWDHs, is also addressing the issue of strain-type injuries with a view to introducing targeted physical preparation into their training program.

While the MWDHs problems were being addressed at Pearce, SGT Stewart also noted problems with injuries to trainee pilots.

Pilots are required to twist and rotate under significant G-forces, which over time can lead to shoulder, upper back, lower back and hamstring problems. SGT Stewart, his team and Mr Dee have established some processes to address the potential for injuries.

“We have developed a musculoskeletal check that is conducted at the commencement of the pilots’ course at 2FTS and then if any spare periods are allocated after the initial seven weeks during the rest of training,” SGT Stewart said.

The check is an overall assessment in which PTIs look for any abnormalities that may need addressing. Physiotherapists also use the check to look for biomechanical shortfalls or abnormalities in the students that may heighten susceptibility to injuries.

A poor score in the sit up test is usually a prime indicator that a person may have a back problem.

“If individuals are shown to have shortfalls, we can then either intervene with specific physiotherapy to the relevant part of their bodies or place them on a Physical Core Conditioning Program with the PTIs if no biomechanical problems are detected,” SGT Stewart said.

Pearce’s Senior Medical Officer Squadron Leader Paul McCarthy described the work undertaken by the PTIs and Mr Dee as “impressive and a good example of workplace/ occupational medicine assessment and a proactive team preventative response”.

This sentiment was echoed by the Director of Preventive Health, Colonel Steve Rudzki, who noted that the methods employed are very similar to the methods advocated by the Defence Injury Prevention Program.

“This is a fine example of local people using effective processes and teamwork to prevent injury in an ADF environment, and this type of initiative is to be applauded,” he said.

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