The impact of serious back pain in the workplace

Almost everyone will experience some kind of injury that gives them back pain before they retire. It could be from lifting kids, lifting a box, driving a bumpy forklift, living a sedentary lifestyle, being overweight, having a poor-quality mattress and any one of hundreds of other reasons.  In certain industries, it’s the primary cause of absenteeism in workers.

Back pain can be soreness and aches, or it could be nerve twinges. Most back pain will resolve itself quickly, but some can turn into chronic back pain, either at a low level, or serious. Serious back pain can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

1. Pain and Stiffness: Persistent or sharp pain in the back that may worsen with movement or activity and could spread to the shoulders or neck. Stiffness in the back, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods.
2. Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty bending, twisting, or moving the back, which impacts the ability to do certain tasks.
3. Radiating Pain: Pain that radiates down the legs (sciatica) or to other parts of the body, such as the buttocks, hips, or thighs.
4. Numbness and Tingling: Sensations of numbness, tingling, or a “pins and needles” feeling in the back, legs, or feet.
5. Muscle Weakness: Weakness in the legs or feet, which can affect balance and mobility, making the risk of falls an issue.
6. Loss of Bladder or Bowel Control: In severe cases, back pain can be associated with loss of control over bladder or bowel function, which requires immediate medical attention.
7. Weight Loss: Unexplained weight loss alongside back pain can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.
8. Muscle Spasms: Involuntary contractions or spasms in the muscles of the back.
9. Difficulty Standing or Sitting: Trouble standing up straight or sitting for extended periods unsupported; pain while sitting supported
10. Fever: If back pain is accompanied by fever, it may indicate an infection or other serious condition.

There are two things a workplace can do to help eliminate back pain that is caused as part of a job:

Training

Manual handling training, sometimes called how to lift training shows people how to warm up using stretching, then how to safely lift, carry and lower and object, either alone or with others. This training is not an effective way of eliminating all back pain, though, because if the factors that cause the risk of injury aren’t addressed, complacent or weaker staff members are still at risk.

Implementing risk management principles for manual handling tasks

This can only be done by looking at each task in the workplace and assigning a risk score, then seeing if there is a way of reducing the load’s weight and the distance carried, or whether other interventions are better such as mechanical aids.

For example, rather than carry heavy boxes from one place to another, can a pallet jack, forklift or conveyor belt be used? 

What are the main hazardous manual task risk factors? 

• Repetitive movement
• Repetitive or sustained forces
• High or sudden forces
• Long task duration
• Awkward postures held for long periods of time
• Mental stress
• Vibration exposure

The sources of this risk include the workplace design and layout, plus its lighting, systems implemented in the workplace, and the characteristics of the people and objects/animals involved in the tasks.

As a manager or business owner, benefits are gained through protecting the health of workers. Consideration of back pain is as important as any other health and safety directives.