Back Injuries

A work-related back injury can be very debilitating.  In some occupations like gardening and nursing back injuries occur because of the cumulative result of years of bending and lifting.  In other cases back injuries may occur as the result of an accident in the workplace.

There are many specific causes of back injuries such as frequent lifting and carrying of objects, lifting and carrying heavy objects, prolonged periods of physical activity without sufficient rest periods, poor supervision and training, bad posture and badly designed office chairs, poorly designed and maintained manual equipment, insufficient breaks for sedentary office workers, use of heavy vibrating machinery, pressure to carry out a task quickly and frequent bending and stooping.

From the list it is clear to see that almost no occupation is free of risk from back pain.  But there are some groups who are more likely to suffer back injuries.  For instance, nurses and care professional have the highest rate of cumulative back injuries. Their job involves a great deal of bending, stooping and manual lifting.  It is important that adequate training is given to ensure that the risk of back injury in minimized. Similarly, construction and factory workers are at an increased risk of suffering a work-related back injury.  They are not only at risk of a cumulative injury because of the physical nature of their work but are also at risk of a sudden accident occurring in the workplace.  It is essential that workers of this type are taught how to lift correctly, are given adequate rest periods and are supervised closely.  Office workers are at risk too because their jobs include a large amount of sedentary work.  If the ergonomics of the workstation have not been carefully thought out and if regular breaks are not available, serious back injuries can occur.

If you are suffering from a back injury sustained at work and which was not your fault you may be able to make a personal injury claim and should talk to an experienced personal injury lawyer.