Partnership projects provide important lessons on tackling back pain at work

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has published a report evaluating the results of 19 projects set up jointly with the Department of Health to develop innovative ideas to tackle back pain in the workplace.

The projects encouraged partnerships particularly with small and medium-sized businesses, to determine what approaches for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of back pain actually work. The results suggest that a proactive partnership approach to managing back pain is effective.

More than 300 businesses and 2,700 employees have been involved in the "Back in Work" pilot projects and the HSE lists the key lessons to come out of the initiative:

* early treatment should be sought for back pain;

* most back pain is not due to a serious condition;

* simple back pain should be treated with basic pain killers and mobilisation;

* it is important to keep active both to prevent and to treat back pain;

* getting back to work quickly helps prevent chronic back pain;

* adopt the correct posture while working;

* all workplace equipment should be adjustable;

* take breaks from repetitive or prolonged tasks or postures;

* avoid manual handling and use lifting equipment where possible;

* clear information should be provided to employees about back care; and

* health and safety policies should be implemented to cover all aspects of day-to-day work and should be reviewed regularly.

Copies of Initiative evaluation report - back in work, price £30, are available online at: www.hse.gov.uk and also from HSE Books, PO Box 1999, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 2WA, tel: 01787 881165 or fax: 01787 313995.