[Back pain in industry: prevalence, correlation with work conditions and requests for reassignment by employees]

Using data from a cross-sectional survey of 974 employees of a metal company in Germany, we analysed the frequency of chronic back pain, ist associations with working conditions, and the requests for workplace modifications, expressed by persons afflicted with chronic back pain. With a prevalence of 32% chronic back pain was the most common health problem. Physical work exposures, such as lifting and carrying as well as working in an awkward position, were strongly (multivariable odds ratios > or = 2.8) associated with chronic back pain, whereas environmental factors were moderately (multivariable odds ratios = 1.6) associated. Most psychosocial stressors, such as time pressure, and conflicts with co-workers and superiors, were moderately associated with chronic back pain as well (age-adjusted odds ratios between 1.4 and 1.8). Stress symptoms, such as irritation and strain, are rated as mediators by possibly linking psychosocial stressors to chronic back pain. If the individual subject is compelled to perform monotonous or repetitive work, he feels underrated, and this has proved to be a risk factor in its own right. Prolonged exposure to physical stressors (> 7 years) was associated with a strongly elevated risk for chronic back pain (age-adjusted odds ratios > or = 4.0 compared to the nonexposed). Blue collar workers afflicted with chronic back pain requested a reduction of their physical work load significantly more often than their non-afflicted colleagues. In contrast, female white collar employees with chronic back pain layed most emphasis on more physical exercise at work. Worksite health promotion programmes should consider these differences in order to meet the specific needs and preferences of different occupational groups.