Back
pain is one of the most common and significant musculoskeletal problems
in the work place today. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration
reports over 1 million workers each year are affected by back pain. It
is second only to the common cold in causing lost days from work. Economically,
low back disorders in the United States cost between $50 and $100 billion
each year. An estimated $11 billion of those costs are covered by Workers'
Compensation, with an average claim costing $8,300 -- more than twice the
average cost all of other types of compensable claims combined.
Although the causes of low
back pain are complex, much scientific research points to the fact that
work-related activities are a significant factor in developing back disorders.
The National Safety Council states that as many as 25 percent of workplace
injuries are caused by overexertion, which is listed as the cause for 60
percent of all low-back injuries reported.
Back strain results from
damage to muscles, ligaments, and/or tendons in the back, and is caused
by over-stretching of the ligaments or tendons, or overuse of the muscles
in the back. The most common problem is a strained or pulled muscle. Once
the muscles, ligaments or tendons in the back are damaged, they are more
susceptible to reinjury.
The National Institute of
Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), a division of the Center for Disease
Control, looked at over 40 recent studies addressing low-back musculoskeletal
injuries, in an effort to correlate work activities as risk factors for
low-back injuries. According to the NIOSH report, the most significant
risk factors associated with lower-back injuries were job activities that
required lifting and forceful movements, and jobs that exposed workers
to whole body vibration. Awkward posture and heavy physical work were also
identified as risk factors.
Most often cited as the cause
of low-back pain were:
Improper methods of lifting,
pulling, pushing, carrying, lowering, bending, or twisting.
Unexpected exertion
Sudden slip or fall
Cumulative trauma
Back problems often result
not only in lost time from work, but reduced quality of life, as those
who suffer from the problem struggle to adjust their lives to avoid further
injury.
Although no approach has
been found to completely eliminate back injuries, there are some things
that have been helpful in decreasing the amount of back injuries on the
job.
Training in proper lifting techniques
Physical conditioning and stretching
Reduction in size of objects
or material being moved
Adjusting the height at which
the objects or material are retrieved or deposited.
Implementing mechanical aids.
Types of injuries that may typically
occur in work situations include:
Strains and sprains
Herniated Discs
