7 Simple Steps To Reduce Work-Related Back Pain
7 April 2022
You could lower costs and improve productivity...with these 7 simple steps to reduce work-related back pain.
Neck pain. Back pain. Tendonitis. Osteoarthritis. Most of your workforce has had them. Or will do. But do you know as much about these common conditions as you think – including how badly they impact your business?
These are known as musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs. They affect mechanisms in the body such as the joints, muscles and tendons. They can be caused or made worse by work or the effects of the work environment, such as manual handling of heavy loads, unfavourable body postures, monotonous/repetitive tasks and high job demands.
These conditions are preventable. Yet MSDs remain one of the most frequent causes of disability, sick leave and early retirement, plus the most common work-related health problem in Europe.
By preventing and managing MSDs in the workplace, organisations will lower costs, improve productivity, gain worker engagement, reduce staff turnover, improve morale, reduce absence rates and more. MSD’s are one of the main reasons for absenteeism and claims.
Here are seven simple steps to help you protect your workforce.
- Risk assessment (TILE) – this health and safety favourite really is your best way to predict the various factors that can lead to MSDs. It should consider task, individual, load, work environment (TILE).
- Control the risks – MSDs can be prevented in the same way as other risks. Use the findings of your risk assessment to put controls in place. This doesn’t have to be costly or a big change and could include modifying equipment or making alterations to work practices.
- Training – See that your workforce is suitably trained in kinetic manual handling techniques.
- Take a break – promote a healthy work-life balance and ensure that rest breaks are included. These will enhance the body’s recovery and prevent fatigue.
- Create good ergonomics – balance the requirements of the job and the capacity of the employee. This can be done by adapting the task to the person through design of the work or developing the capacity of the staff member through training and workplace adjustments.
- Choose the best way to do a job – the way in which a worker performs a task can affect MSDs. For example, when lifting a load, the centre of gravity should be close to the body. So, find better ways to perform a task and inform workers of how to do it. Even small improvements will reduce the risks of MSDs.
- Report it – it’s important an organisation has processes in place for workers to report MSD issues. The sooner they do, the easier it is for your organisation to prevent the issue developing into something more serious.
Of course, MSDs may be related to what workers do in their personal lives, which contributes to issues at work. This is where awareness training comes in. Having healthy workers who are aware of all MSD hazards and risks and are healthier outside of work will always be a benefit to the organisation.
Click here for HSE guide ‘Manual handling at work’
For further advice and training on manual handling, please get in touch today.
