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Occupational Medicine 1980;30:49-56
© 1980 Society of Occupational Medicine

research-article

Low Back Pain in the Steel Industry: a Clinical, Economic and Occupational Analysis at a North Wales Integrated Steelworks of the British Steel Corporation*

J.W. DANIEL, Research Occupational Analyst, J.C.T. FAIRBANK, Clinical Research Fellow, P.T. VALE, Senior Medical Officer and J.P. O'BRIEN, Director

Princess Alexandra Hospital, Essex
British Steel Corporation
Department for Spinal Disorders Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital

A comprehensive study to investigate the effects of low back pain in heavy industry was introduced at a large integrated steelworks in North Wales. The study, conducted by the Department for Spinal Disorders at Oswestry in conjunction with the medical department of the works, had as its guidelines four clearly defined aims:

1. The provision of treatment, advice and diagnosis.

2. The measurement of the manpower and financial costs of low back pain in the steel industry.

3. An attempt to identify areas of work which might contribute to back pain problems.

4. The reduction and prevention of low back pain problems.

The report on the first 100 back pain employees investigated was written for the purpose of planning future development, research and treatment programmes.

Only 19 per cent of the 100 employees examined had a history of low back pain of less than 6 months. The majority, 52 per cent, had suffered between 6 months and 10 years, and 29 per cent had a history of over 10 years. Thirty-four per cent of the employees examined were considered sufficiently disabled to be referred to the Spinal Pain Clinic at Oswestry where they are currently in the process of undergoing further investigations and treatment. Forty-six per cent of the 100 employees examined had sick absences due to low back pain during the year of the investigation. This comprised a loss of 2194 working days and a total cost in sickness benefits of £25 506. Using a method of work performance grading it was discovered that 90 of the employees had been able to work at only 76.5 per cent of their normal output for an average of 26.2 days per year. This represented more than 36 per cent of the sick absences for the year.

The next stage of the study will be to carry out a close investigation of the ‘high risk’ areas with a view to designing methods of reducing the impact of low back pain problems within the steel industry.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to: Mr J. P. O'Brien, Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, Oswestry, Shropshire.


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