This type of injury commonly occurs in employees who work within production lines in facilities such as warehouses and factories, as the way an individual lifts or performs a movement can cause back pain.

As Industrial Disease specialists, we’re taking a closer look at the causes of Cumulative Back Injury (CBI) and how the condition can be prevented.

Repetition of Movement

When completing a task on a daily basis, it can cause strain in the neck, shoulder or spine, resulting in Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). As previously mentioned, this is particularly common in individuals who work in warehouses and factories, however, it is the employer’s responsibility to provide appropriate manual handling training, ensuring the employee knows how to lift safely. Maintaining good posture and taking regular breaks from long or repetitive tasks are also effective ways to reduce the risk of developing a back injury. Although it may be tempting to have one long lunch break, it’s actually better to take smaller, more frequent breaks, encouraging more movement and stretches throughout the day.

One-off Incidents

Nursing, construction and factory work can place significant demands on a person’s back - and without proper training or efficient facilities, one-off accidents can occur and result in a back injury. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure these particular types of injuries are prevented. Through delivering training, improving working facilities and providing mechanical assistance, these one-off incidents - and as a result, back injuries - can be avoided.

Posture

Not only is sitting and standing with proper posture essential to working efficiently, it’s also vital to maintaining a healthy back. Cumulative Back Injury caused by posture usually develops when a person has to work in an unnatural position for extended periods of time, causing fatigue and strain on the employee’s ligaments and muscles. The best way to prevent this kind of injury is to take regular breaks and move around, reducing strain on muscles.

Medical Reporting at MLA

Every job comes with its own risks, with back pain being among one of the most common complaints. As back pain can occur outside of a work environment, it can often be difficult to prove a claimant’s job has caused the injury - that’s where our experts come in.

At MLA, we have an impressive Expert Panel of over 1,500 medical practitioners, all who are highly experienced, qualified and dedicated to delivering quality medical reports. As the UK’s leading provider of Industrial Disease Medical Reports, we’re well-versed in Cumulative Back Injury claims. Our dedicated team will assist in the gathering of medical evidence, assessing the extent of the injury as well as medical history, symptoms and diagnosis, while also recommending the correct treatment pathway for your client.

Once instructed, we’ll appoint one of our Orthopaedic Consultants who specialise in upper and lower back pain injuries to examine your client. Our expert will perform a comprehensive assessment, determining whether frequent heavy lifting, prolonged sitting or bad posture at work has resulted in, or accelerated, your client’s injury.

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