Put your backs to the future
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Back pain is the single greatest reason why people take time off work for sickness. It is estimated that a person with back pain will take an average 13 days off work in one year and collectively 120 million working days will be 'lost' across the country because of the problem.
''Musculoskeletal Disorders affect nearly two-thirds of adults mostly in their 20s and 50s and one in ten major back injuries take place while a person is handling, lifting or carrying. The cost is high or both employee and employer, so, against the backdrop of such painful statistics, the European Agency for Safety and Health is organising a "European Week". Every year the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) promotes a week of initiatives designed to raise awareness of safety matters and companies are awarded for their contributions and recognised for their efforts at high profile ceremonies. Last year more than 2,0)0 Organisations, from single traders and small companies to multi-nationals, took part. However, for the first time this year the HSE has decided tt I coincide its campaign with BackCare Week and the far wider European initiative in order to reinforce the important message about back and musculoskeletal pain. Companies and organisations throughout the country are being encouraged to take part in a week of activities from October 16-22 to highlight the single biggest cause of absence from work and do something about it.