Other factors that increase the risk of back injury or complicate recovery include age, weight, diet, smoking, physical fitness and heredity. The most likely site of injury is the disc, a cartilage-like tissue sandwiched between the vertebrae or spinal bones. The discs act like shock absorbers. They can become injured when too much pressure is put on them or degenerate with age. The best way to decrease back injuries in the work setting is to teach employees proper lifting techniques and make them aware of exercises that can be used to strengthen the back.
Some firms get good results by having employees participate in stretching and warm-up exercises.
Let employees know you expect them to follow good safety practices and ask for help when necessary. Promote physical fitness, reward appropriate behavior and lead by example. You can improve sedentary jobs by simply varying the workers' tasks. A person with a desk job, for example, could make deliveries around the office two or three times a day. Job rotation can be used to vary the physical demands on workers when basic operations cannot be changed.