Back Pain
About 9.3 million working days were lost due to work-related back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders in 2008/9. The main causes of it are poor posture or an awkward twisting movement (bending or reaching), or a combination of the two.
In most cases, the best treatment is to stay active and, if necessary, use over-the-counter painkillers. You may feel like going to bed, but this won’t help and could make things worse. The longer you stay immobile, the weaker your back muscles will become and the more they'll hurt in the long term. For tips on keeping a healthy back, read more HERE
Sitting
If you spend a lot of your time at work sitting at a desk, make sure you're sitting in the right position in relation to your computer. If you're unsure about correct posture, ask your line manager for a workplace assessment.
If you work on a computer a lot, it's important to take regular breaks. That means for every hour at your keyboard you should rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes.
Lifting
One of the biggest causes of back injury, especially at work, is lifting or handling objects incorrectly. Learning and following the correct method for lifting and handling objects can help prevent back pain.
Here are some key points to lift safely:
- Think before you lift.
- Start in a good position.
- Keep the load close to your waist.
- Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways.
- Keep your head up.
- Know your limits.
- Push, don't pull.
- Distribute the weight evenly.
For more information on correct lifting techniques and safe manual handling, read our guide to lifting safely.HERE
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