As a worker, you end up exposed to the possibility of injury every day. Some jobs have a higher risk rate for injury than others, but all jobs carry the potential for an incident. Back injuries are one of the most common work-related injuries workers face, too.
But in what ways can a back injury impact you? How does it affect you in the short term? In the long term? And what can you do about it?
What is the workplace impact of back pain?
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke examines the impact of back injuries. Lower back injuries are one of the most common reasons that workers take time off around the world. 64 percent of people who experience back pain end up missing work at some point, compared to 45 percent of workers without back pain.
In addition, back pain alone accounts for 264 million lost workdays every year. In other words, that is 2 full workdays per year for every full-time worker. It also costs citizens some $50 billion in healthcare costs every year. But when you add in and account for decreased productivity, lost wages and more, this number can easily inflate to $100 billion.
Short term vs. long term pain
Most victims experience a form of short-term back pain, which clears up over time without much interference. However, there are also forms of long-term back pain. A small percentage of workers who suffer from the short term kind will go on to develop chronic and potentially debilitating long term conditions.
Back pain can cost you in work hours, money, productivity and more. If you want to learn about your potential compensation options, consider contacting legal help.
