Wellfield Osteopathic Clinic Cardiff 

Brian McKenna BSc (Hons) Ost Osteopath & Louise Cooke BSc (Hons) Ost LLB (Hons) Osteopath (Cardiff)

 Gentle Caring Professional  Osteopaths                     21 the Globe Centre, Roath, Cardiff  029 2019 0040 

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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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All our osteopaths are registered with the General Osteopathic Council are members of the British Osteopathic Association and the Sutherland Society (Cranial Osteopathy) and Brian is a member of the British Medical Acupuncture Society.

Copyright Wellfield Osteopathic Clinic, Cardiff. photos copyright kempfner photography Updated January 2009

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