Back Pain at Work:

• 119.8 million days of certified incapacity in 1996/7
• 63,793 work related back accidents/injuries
• 452,300 work related back illnesses

Highest Incidences in:

• Nursing, construction, agriculture, retail, food and water industries.
• Cost to industry in lost production - at least £6 billion
• Cost to NHS - £480 million p.a.

Occupational Group Sample - Nurses:

• 80,000 nurses back injured annually
• 3,600 nurses invalided out each year
• Highest compensation paid to nurse £450,000 plus costs.
• Cost of replacement nurse training, minimum £30,000.