Benefits of a back care and light duty health promotion program in a hospital setting

Back injuries are a common and expensive problem in industry in terms of both direct and indirect costs. A dramatic increase in the costs of workers' compensation for work-related back injuries occurred from 1981-1985 in a hospital setting. During this five-year period, costs of back injuries rose from $36,384 to $272,751, a 750% increase, and the incidence per thousand employees rose from 21 in 1981 to 33 in 1985. A back care education program was instituted by the Physical Therapy Department and Employee Health Service for all departments within the hospital, with content tailored to individual job requirements. Because employees who have had one back injury are at risk for reinjury, an "at risk" program was also developed. For those injured employees without time off work and without need for medical care, a private session with a physical therapist is required to assess musculoskeletal problems and to review posture and body mechanics directly related to specific job tasks. Those employees unable to work in their usual positions are assigned to temporary modified jobs as part of the Light Duty Program. In 1986, following the institution of these two programs in the hospital, the cost of back injuries dramatically decreased to $72,296, a $200,000 drop, and the incidence per thousand employees fell to fifteen. The efficacy of this health promotion intervention program was confirmed both in the cost benefit to the hospital as well as in reduction in incidence of low back injury.