Fatigue not only causes instant and obvious discomfort but its effect adds up over time. For that reason fatigue can also contribute to serious injuries to the musculoskeletal system. These injuries can later develop into chronic conditions that can become difficult to treat effectively. Additionally, fatigue decreases workers' alertness, making them more likely to act without due caution. This, in turn, increases their risk for accidents.
Back pain can result from various causes.
The most common causes are strains and cramps in the back muscles. Less frequently it arises from direct damage to the vertebrae or the discs that separate them. A worker can sustain a back injury from a single episode such as lifting too heavy a load, slipping and falling, or receiving a blow to the back. However, most often it is not the single episode that causes back injury. It is the repetition, as in manual handling, that contributes most to the occurrence of injuries.