Statistical evidence suggests the longer someone is absent due to back pain, the less likely they are to return. The HSE pamphlet highlights a small plastics company with 25 workers which made informal arrangements with a local physiotherapist to assess and treat employees with back pain. Early treatment minimised the problems and helped keep staff at work. The main cost of back pain is sickness absence. But most back pain is not caused at work and any measures to prevent injury there may not be enough.
Employers have to know when their staff are havingnproblems with back pain.
Personnel departments should encourage employees to report any problems and assure them they will not be penalised with lower paid duties as a result. There should be close co-operation between those responsible for personnel and those responsible for health and safety. If personnel is aware 50 employees have been off work in the last six months with back pain and health and safety have not been told, this can cause problems.