The total number of working days lost due to MSDs in 2013/14 was
8.3 million, an average of 15.9 days per case. (HSE 2015) In 2014
the government stated that employers’ faced a yearly bill of
around £9 billion for sick pay and associated costs, with individuals
missing out on £4 billion a year in lost earnings’. (DWP 2014)
Occupational back pain accounts for a large proportion of these
disorders, a condition know to have a significant psychological
component. Success has been evident when using the BPS model
in managing back pain; for example, the inappropriate use of such
terms as “chronic” pain can often influence an individual’s own
perception of their condition, convince them that it is a lot more
serious than it is, and thus dramatically influence the outcome by
slowing recovery.
DWP (2015). A million workers off sick
for more than a month. Department of
work and pensions. Online www.gov.uk/
government/news/a-million-workers-off-sickfor-more-than-a-month. Accessed 21/08/15
It is well researched that activity and mobility promotes recovery,
but a more holistic BPS approach is required to address the
psychological components, such as motivation and morale,
required for successful rehabilitation.
HSE (2015). Musculoskeletal Disorders
in Great Britain 2014. Online at wtistics/
causdis/musculoskeletal/msd.pdfww.hse.
gov.uk/sta. Accessed 21/08/15
OH services and employees must evolve together to meet the
changing needs of their organisation, embracing the factors
required to maintain a high standard of health, fitness and
wellbeing. This partnership, with a change-ready workforce mindful
of the responsibility for their own health, will augment the resilience
required to meet the future demands on an ageing workforce.
Knight K (2013). Facing the future: Findings
from the review of efficiencies and
operations in fire and rescue authorities in
England (The Knight Report) DCLG, London.
Mind (2015). Online at www.mind.org.uk.
Accessed 21/08/15
Article provided by:
Paul Rudge - Occupational Health.
West Midlands Fire & Rescue Service.
Engel G L (1977). The need for new medical
model: “A challenge for biomedicine”.
Science 196; pp.129-136
Hinckley P (2015). Reshaping our
Occupational Health Service. WMFS
Birmingham
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