With employers seeing an increase in the incidence of back-related impairments among their employees, providing work place accommodations for these individuals has become a necessity. This was the most often cited impairment and has brought about an increasing need for knowledge of possible accommodations for individuals with back impairments. This knowledge can also assist employers in hiring and retaining individuals with back impairments. Some employers have the misconception that people who have disabilities are difficult to accommodate. However, this is not necessarily true.
Accommodations are typically low cost and easy to implement.
The person's abilities and limitations should be considered and problematic job tasks must be identified. Limitations may range from managing fatigue to using a material lift or needing an ergonomic chair. Keep in mind that functional limitations caused by back impairments vary among individuals. Even persons with the same symptoms may experience different limitations and be affected in different ways. The following pages provide basic information about useful questions to consider, accommodation possibilities for people who have a back impairment, and helpful resources.