Vibration in the hands and arms can cause several types of damage to fingers, palms of the hands and the wrists. Common Law Compensation Common Law compensation, whereby negligence must be shown on the part of the employer, but the degree of disability is less important. In all businesses from factories to farms, from quarries to hairdressing and cleaning and even in offices and shops, workers' health can be at risk from the hazardous substances they encounter if the right precautions are not taken. Back pain is the main cause of absence from work in this country and the annual cost to Industry of lost production exceeds Five Billion Pounds. At any particular time about one person in seven will be suffering from back pain.
Back pain is common to both sexes and affects all age groups.
Certain types of work activity are likely to place people at risk and back pain is associated with heavy manual work including lifting and handling, forceful exertion, bending and twisting, working in a stooped position, prolonged sitting in a fixed position, vibration and stress, The effects of various activities can be cumulative so that, for example, the work of a care assistant may require long periods of time in a stooped position and may be psychologically as well as physically demanding. Damage to the back may be caused by heavy lifting over a period of time and an episode of back pain that comes on suddenly does not mean that it was caused by any particular incident alone. When injury actually occurs may be a matter of chance. If injury has been suffered at work a worker may be entitled to compensation. Employers are obliged by Law to take reasonable care for the safety of their workforce and must provide a safe system of work, a safe work place and suitable and safe equipment for carrying out their work.