Campaign to tackle backache epidemic unveiled

A CAMPAIGN was launched yesterday to tackle backache, the single biggest ailment workers complain of, especially those in nursing, construction and agriculture.

About a quarter of Irish workers complain that they suffer back pains regularly while almost the same amount say they are also affected by muscular pains.

The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work believe these are responsible for up to half of the days off taken by 30% of the Irish workforce each year.

The cost in terms of personal suffering and in lost productivity is huge, but tackling musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) should be easy enough, the agency says.

The Lighten the Load campaign launched in Brussels yesterday by the European Commission involves employers, employees and government tackling the problem of MSD in the workplace.

MSD affects more than the back as it can damage muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments and nerves. It does not result just from carrying heavy loads as repetitive movements, awkward positions and carrying lighter loads over a long period of time also causes damage.

These are evident in repetitive strain injuries including carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis suffered by people working on computers for instance.

Young people are also affected and an estimated four million under the age of 25 suffer MSD.

In some jobs women are significantly more at risk than men. In the healthcare sector up to seven million women who lift or move items regularly complain of back pain.

In the retail sector up to six million women carry or move heavy loads and up to 11 million women stand or walk for prolonged periods of time.