What is Back Care Awareness Week?

Back Care Awareness week is an annual campaign run by BackCare, a national charity, aiming to highlight the importance of back care with a focus on prevention.

Why do we need to look after our backs?

Back disorders are the most common form of ill health at work. It is estimated that up to four out of five people (80%) will experience back pain lasting more than a day at some time during their life (BackCare – The Charity for Healthier Backs, 2006).

Back Care in the Workplace

Your employer is required by law to protect your health and safety at work, whether you're based in an office, factory or outdoors. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSD’s), including manual handling injuries, are the most common type of occupational ill health in the United Kingdom; it can affect anyone at anytime. The Health and Safety Executive believes prevention is a priority and that steps can be taken to prevent MSD’s. Preventative measures are cost effective, however it is not possible to prevent all MSD’s. Therefore early reporting of symptoms, proper treatment and suitable rehabilitation is essential.

Common causes of back problems in the workplace

Back problems can arise from many work activities. The exact cause is often unclear but back problems are often more common in activities that involve:

Manual work and handling tasks in heavy industry
Repetitive tasks, such as manual packing of goods
Sitting at a workstation for long periods of time and/or poor arrangement of workstations
Working with display screen equipment

(Note that this is not a comprehensive list)

How can I help an employee with back pain?

As an employer you have a responsibility to offer help or assistance to any employee reporting back pain, however it is also the individual’s responsibility to seek help and advice.

You should ensure that your employees have correct and up to date information and advice on how to cope with back pain, and how to return to their normal daily activities. We advise that you give any employee affected a copy of an information booklet. The "Back Book" is recommended and is available from a variety of outlets, including online bookstores such as TSO Online bookshop or Amazon.

Reassure them that as an organisation you are concerned about their well-being and want to help. Ask what they are finding difficult about the job, as this may enable you as an employer to make their job less physically demanding; as a temporary measure to help them stay at or return to work. Occupational Health can make recommendations or offer advice on adjustments at work or management of acute/chronic back problems.

Advice for employees with back pain

Do stay as active as usual, if possible. Seek medical advice if you are worried about your back pain or if the pain persists or suddenly gets worse
Do inform your employer and if necessary talk about what can be done to help you stay at work
Do find out about back pain. We would recommend that you obtain a copy of the information booklet ‘The Back Book’ there is a link to help you obtain a copy of this.

How COPE can help

COPE aims to provide assistance to both companies and employees who fall victim to back pain, by offering services with the intention of improving their functional ability and lifestyle.

COPE can offer a range of services. We can help with the management of back care in all kinds of ways: