Back Injury Prevention and Recovery

How often do you hear complaints of back pain at work or in daily life? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, back injuries account for one of every five workplace injuries or illnesses, 80% of which are in the lower back. These low-back problems include strains, sprains, neuromuscular, and/or bone-related injuries.¹ Second only to the common cold as the most frequent reason for missing work, says the National Safety Council, back injuries can wreak pain and havoc not only on the lives of your employees but also your business’s productivity and bottom line—more specifically your workers’ comp costs. Anyone can be at risk, not just workers who perform physical labor and lift heavy objects, but you can arm your employees with knowledge to prevent back injuries and tips to get back to work sooner if an injury does occur.²

Here are some key areas that you and your employees can focus on to reduce back injuries in your workplace:²

1. Pay attention to body mechanics and ergonomics. Do you ever sit or stand in an unnatural position? Or do you frequently twist, bend, or lift something incorrectly? If so, you may need adjustments to your workstation and daily work habits. Check out Summit’s tips on proper lifting techniques.
2. Stay physically fit. Weak, under-exercised muscles rob the back of its support and increase the chance of injury. Strengthening your core muscles, abdomen, and leg muscles often results in less stress on your back. Also, losing excess weight can alleviate strain on your back. Workplace wellness programs can help motivate your employees to improve their overall health and physical activity.
3. Control stress, anxiety, and depression as much as possible. Tension can cause muscles to tighten and throw your back into a spasm. Promoting mental health can help your employees combat stress—and this is another topic that can be addressed with your workplace wellness program, including an employee assistance program, if your business has one. 

Getting your employee back on the job as soon as medically appropriate after a workplace injury should always be your goal, not only to reduce your workers’ comp costs but to also support the employee’s mental and physical wellbeing. Confinement to one’s home can lead to feelings of isolation—and unless bed rest is appropriate for the injury, being at work is a good way to keep muscles moving and speed up recovery. In many cases, extended bed rest for a back injury is not recommended because it can lead to long-term disability and higher claim costs. According to the National Library of Medicine, with the exception of severe injury, workers should resume normal activities as soon as tolerated, including returning to work.³

Medical providers are the best judge of when your injured employees can safely return to work and under what conditions. Providers should determine the appropriate activity level throughout the recovery process and recommend any restrictions if necessary. That’s why it’s vital for your injured employee to keep all medical appointments and for you to keep track of the recovery progress. Supporting your employees while they recover is part of a return-to-work program. Learn all about Summit’s program, Back2work^®. If you don’t already have a return-to-work program, take time to implement one now and develop transitional duty positions for each employee before injuries occur. These roles allow employees to return to work sooner than they would otherwise, which means the total lost-wage (indemnity) costs on the claim will be reduced.

1. “Back Injury Prevention.” The University of Virginia, ehs.virginia.edu/Ergonomics-BIP.html (Accessed 08/12/2022).
2. National Safety Council. Five-Minute Safety Talk: Know the Facts about Backs. www.nsc.org/getmedia/a98369c0-fb56-4e1e-ac38-43ea9cc9ccca/backs-english.pdf.aspx (Accessed 08/12/2022).
3. “Early Return to Work Has Benefits for Relief of Back Pain and Functional Recovery After Controlling for Multiple Confounds.” National Library of Medicine, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6200378/ (Accessed 08/12/2022).
4. “Return to Work Delayed by Doctors Ignoring Treatment Guidelines for Back Pain: Study.” Insurance Journal, Wells Media Group, Inc., June 18, 2022, www.insurancejournal.com/news/national/2021/06/18/619227.htm (Accessed 08/12/2022).

The information presented in this publication is intended to provide guidance and is not intended as a legal interpretation of any federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations applicable to your business. The loss prevention information provided is intended only to assist policyholders of Summit managed insurers in the management of potential loss producing conditions involving their premises and/or operations based on generally accepted safe practices. In providing such information, Summit Consulting LLC does not warrant that all potential hazards or conditions have been evaluated or can be controlled. It is not intended as an offer to write insurance for such conditions or exposures. The liability of Summit Consulting LLC and its managed insurers is limited to the terms, limits and conditions of the insurance policies underwritten by any of them.