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PREVENTING BACK INJURIES
In 2012, back problems topped the causes of occupational illnesses and injuries requiring days away from work. Sprains, strains, tears and soreness of the back accounted for more than one-fifth (20.5 percent) of all lost-time illnesses and injuries. And while national statistics don't exist, these injuries account for more than a quarter of workers' compensation costs in California. Back injuries can also be costly. Recent data specifically for back injury costs were not available, but Centers for Disease Control data indicate that during 2005, lost work time due to sprains, strains and fractures of the torso cost U.S. employers nearly $7.3 billion. The medical treatment costs for these conditions for people ages 18 to 65 reached nearly $2 billion that year. Since work can cause or contribute to many of these injuries, no doubt workers' compensation bore many of these costs. TYPES OF BACK INJURIES Muscle strains are the least serious but most common source of back pain, resulting from stretched or torn muscles. When a person does a sudden or unfamiliar movement, the muscles are more likely to suffer damage than ligaments or tendons. Straining becomes even more likely if the muscle: - lacks strength - is tight and tense - is fatigued from repetitive motion or from holding a position too long, such as sitting all day. PREVENTING BACK INJURIES Back injuries are painful, disruptive to work and life and can lead to costly surgery. Employers should try to avoid back injuries whenever possible. Strategies include: 1. Examine ergonomic factors. If back injuries occur frequently at your workplace, maybe it's time look at ergonomics, or the science of fitting a job to a person, rather than the other way around. Ergonomics helps lessen muscle fatigue, increases productivity and reduces the number and severity of work-related musculoskeletal disorders. It involves looking at the entire job environment, particularly the interaction of human body and equipment used to perform a job's essential tasks. Sometimes simple ergonomic improvements, such as adjusting a workstation's height, can yield dramatic results. At other times, avoiding injuries will require a dramatic redesign of a workspace, equipment or task. An ergonomist or industrial hygienist can help you look at problem areas in your workplace. 2. Reconsider back braces. If your workers rely on back braces when lifting, you might want to consult with a physician who specializes in occupational injuries, or a physical therapist. Some studies have found that back braces do not prevent injury and may in fact contribute to injuries, by giving workers wearing them a false sense of security. 3. Conduct training. You've no doubt heard it before, but there are proper and improper ways to lift. Monitor your employees whose jobs require lifting and provide regular refresher trainings. 4. Promote fitness. Strengthening the muscles of the abdomen, back and thighs can help prevent back injuries by providing better support to the spine. Overweight and sedentary people have a higher risk of back injury than their fitter counterparts. Fitter employees will not only cost you less in group medical expenses, they could also cost you less in workers' compensation payments. We can help you evaluate your injury claims and suggest ways to minimize future claims. For more information, please contact the PCOC Insurance Program department of Jenkins Leavitt Insurance Services at (877) 860-7378 or, email us @ ProPest@Leavitt.com. |
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