NEWS & PR

A Bad Back Could Cost You More Than You Think

15 July 2005

British business loses an estimated 4.9 million days to employee absenteeism through work-related back conditions each year. Employees are taking an average of 19 days off work, according to the latest figures from the 2003/4 Labour Force Survey.

The charity 'BackCare' estimates the overall cost of back pain - to the NHS, business and the economy - at £5 billion per year.

With this information being released, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has launched its 'Better Backs' campaign. The campaign will offer concise, practical tips on how to avoid back-related injuries in the workplace to both businesses and employees.

The Work and Pensions Minister commented, "Occupational ill health and injury accounts for 40 million working days lost with back pain alone accounting for 4.9 million. The effects on those businesses and individuals are almost incalculable. It’s not only impacting on business' profits, its affecting productivity and stopping employees' enjoying their social life. Everyone needs to take responsibility for tackling this issue - and by taking simple, sensible precautions in work and at home we can collectively work to reduce the misery of back pain."