Bad backs are bad for business
Most people associate back injuries in the workplace with manual jobs involving heavy lifting and physical activity, but they can, and do, affect every industry.
According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), back pain and musculoskeletal problems are the second and third biggest causes of long-term sickness absence in the UK.1 So the more you understand about the effects of work-related back injuries, the more you can do to keep your business in good shape.
The charity BackCare estimates the healthcare costs of back pain total 1.6 billion.3 It’s also estimated that musculoskeletal problems, including back pain, cost between £590 and £624 million a year. Back problems can affect anyone and it’s estimated that four out of five people will experience back pain at some point in their lives.3 Businesses are obliged to protect their employees from injury in the workplace,4 but because back injuries can arise from the most normal of activities, it’s important to know how best to avoid them.
It can be difficult to determine the cause of back pain, as it may be triggered by various factors,5 such as poor posture, sitting at a workstation for a long time, or lifting and carrying objects that are too heavy.6 Employees in sedentary roles, such as office workers and long distance drivers,5 are at risk along with those occupied in manual professions; back pain can affect anyone in any sector.2 Even though it’s not always possible to predict what might trigger back pain in employees, with the right precautions and management, you could help keep the cost of sickness absence through back pain down.
Encourage short breaks away from the desk, regular stretching and ensure employees take a lunch break.
Look at employee work habits and individual needs on a regular basis; encourage employees to tell you about the issues and problems they face.6
Assess individual workstations in order to identify and reduce any risks and comply with health and safety regulations; provide seating with adequate support and check VDU positions for desk-based employees.6,9
Go back to basics – review your health and safety policy and train employees on how to lift items correctly - this could help reduce back-related injuries.6
Should back pain occur, encourage employees to report symptoms early, as it’s important to arrange proper treatment and rehabilitation.
A better understanding of the different types of back pain and treatments means you’ll be better equipped to help employees. You can learn more from the back pain factsheets available at www.bupa.co.uk/health
Evidence shows that bed rest is not always suitable for the treatment of back pain. It has been shown that resuming normal activities can help speed up the recovery process, whereas inactivity can be detrimental and should be discouraged.2 Remaining active, possibly even still attending work but with modified tasks2 and managing the pain with normal painkillers is the advice given by the charity BackCare and the HSE.3,7
Your employee’s back may benefit from the exercise and could heal more quickly.7 The HSE advises that active behaviour might stop the problem from reoccurring, meaning less time off work for the employee. If the pain lasts longer than 48 hours and gets worse, your employee should talk to their GP.2
The longer a person is off work with back pain the less likely they are to return,2 especially if the absence lasts for longer than six months.3 A more positive way to encourage an employee to return to work would be to talk together with them and help them return gradually and safely. Demonstrating a good understanding of their individual work habits and problems,8 as well as reviewing their workstation set-up, be it a desk, vehicle or otherwise, could help to make the transition back to work more successful.3,9 When employees are away on sick leave, staying in regular contact with them is important to help determine their progress and reassure them you are concerned about their condition and want to help.8
Arranging medical care and rehabilitation is often easier for larger companies as they have the resources to offer this. However, smaller businesses might find they can make arrangements through their employer’s liability insurance, or make partnerships with health professionals who can offer risk assessments.8 You can find extra support and advice on the HSE website, who last year ran a national ‘Better Backs’ campaign. This campaign was so successful they’re running it again this year. You can also visit our website where you’ll find explanations on the different types of back pain, diagnosis and treatment information.
www.hse.gov.uk/betterbacks
www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/index.htm
www.bupa.co.uk/health_information
Call us on 0800 600 500*
* Lines are open 8am to 8pm Mon - Fri and 9am to 5pm at weekends. Calls may be recorded and may be monitored.
Sources
1 CIPD Absence Management 2008.
2 Back Pain in the workplace. Health and Safety Executive. http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/intro.htm, accessed 18 May 2009
3 Back Pain – facts and figures - http://www.backcare.org.uk/323/Back-pain.html, accessed 18 May 2009
4 Backpain – summary Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/summary.htm, accessed 18 May 2009
5 What can lead to back pain in the workplace? Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/wkp.htm, accessed 18 May 2009
6 Preventing and alleviating back pain Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/prevention.htm, accessed 18 May 2009
7 Backpain - advice for workers Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/workers.htm, accessed 18 May 2009
8 Backpain - advice for employers Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/backpain/employers.htm , accessed 18 May 2009
9 Working with VDUs Health and Safety Executive http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf, accessed 18 May 2009
Related Bupa products
Helps reduce sickness absence with Bupa. Join 40,000+ businesses already covered by Bupa.