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For Employers
Musculo-Skeletal Disorders (MSDs)
are the most common occupational illness in Great
Britain, affecting millions of people each year.
They include problems such as low back pain, joint
injuries and repetitive strain injuries.
What are the costs?
- UK Plc over £12 billion a year;
- Employers £495 a year in direct costs for every worker
employed. Indirect costs are probably considerably more (CBI 2005
statistics)
How can osteopathy help?
Osteopaths are highly skilled
practitioners who specialise in the diagnosis and
treatment of musculoskeletal problems such as back
pain and RSI. We can provide information on whether
your employees should remain in work, go on modified
duties or stay off work. We can then treat them and
get them back to work far more quickly than they would
under normal circumstances.
Below is an example of how having a
musculoskeletal service at your workplace can
significantly reduce costs and civil compensation
claims and increase your productivity.
British Polythene Industries (BPI)
employ 3,500 staff across 40 sites in the UK. In the
mid 90’s they started risk assessment and kinetic
handling training in order to reduce musculoskeletal
injury levels. However, it was soon felt that more
needed to be done to help injured employees return
to work as quickly as possible. An average of 26
working days were being lost for each MSD absence.
BPI engaged ‘Osteopaths for Industry’ who agreed to
provide a ‘Musculoskeletal Injury Management System’
(MIMS) where every injured person
being seen by a therapist within 24-48 hours.
After an initial assessment by a registered physical
therapist, with the employees consent, a detailed
report is sent to BPI giving details of the injury,
the estimated number of treatments required and
whether or not the employee is fit for normal
duties, restricted duties or not fit. These reports
aid BPI in assisting the injured person back to
work. The scheme does not discriminate between
injuries from work or leisure as any musculoskeletal
problem could benefit from early attention or risk
lengthy period of absence from work.
The costs and benefits of the scheme
In 2001 there were more than 400 treatment sessions
arranged. Each referral had an average of three
treatments which cost £16000 in total. However, the
benefits of more than 75% of staff remaining in work
whilst undergoing therapy, a substantial reduction
in civil compensation claims and lower than
anticipated increase in Employers Liability
Compulsory Insurance premiums saved the company
£192,000. This works out as a saving of £12 for
every £1 spent on the return to work scheme. The
success of this initiative has met with continued
support from senior management and trade unions.
This initiative has enabled BPI to reduce the costs
of musculoskeletal injuries sustained by their staff
at work or at home and also raised the profile of
health and safety issues in general, contributing to
a more positive health and safety culture. Andy
Collinson, Group Health & Safety Manager says;
“This rehabilitation scheme created the solutions we
needed in terms of health and safety and
occupational health. It was popular with the
workforce and their representatives and it made
excellent business sense.”
What can I do to help a worker
with back pain?
As an employer, you can do a lot
to help any of your staff that report back pain. It
is very important to be positive and helpful in
removing obstacles to their recovery.
- Make sure they have the right
information and advice on how to cope with back
pain and lead a normal life. The easiest way to
do this is to give them a copy of an information
booklet;
The Back Book[1]
is recommended.
- Reassure them that you are
concerned about them and want to help. Ask what
they find difficult about the job. This may give
you a chance to make jobs less physically
demanding as a temporary measure to help them
stay at work or return to work quickly
- If they have consulted their
doctor, tell them you are willing to discuss the
situation with the doctor and to work with them
to support any treatment that is recommended.
- If they go off sick it is
important to keep in touch. Discuss whether
modified work or a gradual build-up to normal
duties will help them return to work.
What if a worker does not recover
in a few weeks?
If the pain continues, it is
important that the sufferer consults a medical
practitioner to check that the condition is not
serious. Because back pain has many causes, a
precise diagnosis is not always possible, and this
makes management of the pain all the more important.
Most workers should be able to
return to some form of work within two weeks. If an
employee has not been able to return by then,
consider possible measures to help their recovery
and return to work. Involving those treating your
employee and perhaps your occupational health staff
will help you in the discussion about such measures.
These could include physiotherapy or other
manipulative treatments. It could also mean looking
at changes to working conditions and helping the
worker learn to cope.
Arranging treatment and
rehabilitation will be easier for large businesses
that have their own specialists and an occupational
health service. But small businesses can also have
access to these kinds of arrangements.
- Some have 'good neighbours'.
Some large companies offer small businesses in
their supply chain access to their support
services.
- Some go it alone. Some small
businesses find it worthwhile to make local
partnership arrangements with health
professionals. These contacts can also help
advise on how to avoid risk in the workplace.
- Some make arrangements
through their employer's liability insurance.
Most insurers now offer this sort of service.
However, not all therapies are
equally effective and not all providers follow
evidence-based good practice. The provider should be
aware of this guidance. Make sure they know you have
a system for providing modified work and will
support early return-to-work arrangements.
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