WORKPLACE - 30.09.2022

How can you reduce back pain problems?

What causes back pain?

While all work-related back injuries can’t be prevented, ignoring job-related risks is a leading factor in developing health issues. The most common causes of work-related back pain are:

• muscle strain which can be caused by sitting or standing in the same position for long periods, repetitive movements and constant strains and pulls through various activities
• job-related stress which may take a toll on a worker’s back over time as muscle tension can result in back pain
• not taking sufficient breaks. Even if your workers are taking proper precautions, carrying out duties that place extra strain on their spine can increase the risk of sustaining an injury
• ignoring health issues. If your staff have existing health risks such as weight issues and conditions like high blood pressure, taking on extra work-related duties may increase their back injury risk.

Tip. Avoid directly blaming an employee and saying it’s their fault they have a bad back. Work with them to understand why they have not used equipment or failed to use the correct lifting technique. Find alternative methods for carrying out the task.

Prevention’s better than cure

Being aware of the risks can encourage employees to take steps to reduce the odds of causing an injury. By preventing and managing all musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in the workplace, organisations stand to lower costs, improve productivity, gain worker engagement, reduce staff turnover, improve morale and reduce absence rates.

Lighten the load

So what can you do to educate your staff and lower the risk in your workplace?

• Risk assess. It really is the best way to predict the various factors that can lead to MSDs. It should consider task, individual, load, work environment and anything else that’s relevant. Use our risk assessment template (see The next step ).
• Control the risks. Use the findings of your risk assessment to put controls in place. This doesn’t have to be costly or a big change and could include modifying equipment or making alterations to work practices.
• Take a break. Ensure that rest breaks are taken to enhance the body’s recovery thereby preventing fatigue.
• Good ergonomics. Balance the requirements of the job and the capacity of the employee. This can be done by adapting the task to the person through design of the work or developing the capacity of the staff member through training and workplace adjustments.
• Pay attention to posture. The way in which a worker performs a task can affect MSDs. For example, if a worker maintains a static posture and twists to pack, such as working on checkouts, they are more likely to damage muscles than if they move their feet to position themselves. Small improvements reduce the risk.
• Report it. MSDs may be related to what workers do in their personal lives, which compounds issues at work. This is where awareness training comes in. Having workers who are aware of all MSD hazards and risks and are healthier outside of work will be of benefit to you.

For a link to our manual handling risk assessment, visit https://www.tips-and-advice.co.uk , Download Zone, year 21 issue 02.