How Many Workers Suffer From Back Injury Annually
As per the report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 1 million workers suffer from severe back injuries every year. Back injuries have become a significant concern in the workplace and affect thousands and millions of workers every year. These injuries not only cause pain and suffering but lead to loss of productivity and sometimes complete disability.
Back pain might disrupt life, make it difficult for workers to complete daily tasks, and limit their ability to perform work efficiently. Preventing back injuries is one of the most demanding workplace safety challenges. However, understanding the cause of these injuries is crucial to implementing effective preventive measures.
Let's Have a Look at Some Facts about Back Injuries!
- Every year, over one million back injuries happen in the workplace.
- According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one in five are related to back injuries of all diseases and injuries sustained at the workplace.
- Almost 80 percent of the back injuries were related to the lower back, and 75 percent of them took place while performing a lifting task.
- Each year, these injuries impact over 600,000 American workers, costing the country over $50 billion.
- The leading cause of "job-related disability" and a significant factor in lost workdays is a back injury.
- It is the second leading cause of missed work after the common cold. Back injury is a severe problem for both companies and workers.
Industries with Prominent Back Injuries
Back injuries dominate various industries, but specific sectors have exceptionally high rates. Industries with high incidences of back injuries are construction and healthcare. Nurses, aides, and other healthcare workers often lift and move patients, which places a tremendous strain on their backs. In 2016, these professions made up 15.6% of all back-related cases.
- Nursing assistants reported ten thousand three hundred thirty cases of back-related musculoskeletal disorders.
- An additional 10,660 incidents included laborers and manual material movers.
- Heavy tractor-trailer truck drivers experienced more shoulder (19.2 percent) and leg (16.3 percent) injuries than workers in other occupations.
- The manufacturing industry headed the way with a shocking 438,200 recorded injuries.
- Construction prevailed, with almost 4.7 injuries for every 100 full-time workers. However, age is another significant factor to consider.
- With 51,770 recorded cases, the food and accommodation sector had the second-highest rate of back injuries in 2020.
Demographics
Back injuries can affect workers of all ages. But, certain demographic groups are more prone to back injuries. According to data from the National Institutes for Health (NIH), male workers are more likely to suffer back injuries than female workers due to the physical demands of jobs held by men, for example, in the construction and manufacturing sectors. However, age is another significant factor to consider.
Back Injuries by Age
- In 2019, workers aged 55 to 64 missed 11 days from work due to back injuries.
- In 2020, back injuries among healthcare and social support workers were most common among those aged 55 to 64.
- In 2020, back injuries among mining workers were most common among those aged 25 to 34.
- Among all age groups, workers in the 45–54 age range missed the most work days in 2020 due to back injuries.
Back Injuries by Gender
- In 2019, back injuries at work were more common in males than women.
- In the service-related industries in 2020, women reported a higher incidence of back injuries than men.
- In 2022, female employees in the retail sector had the highest rate of back injuries.
Injury Types
Back injuries can vary in severity, from minor strains to severe spinal damage. The most common types of Back Injury are muscle strain or sprain, spinal disc herniation, chronic back pain, fractures, degenerative disc, and arthritis.
- In 2019, overexertion and physiological response constituted thirty-three percent of job injuries.
- In 2019, sprains, strains, and tears accounted for 30% of all workplace injuries, making them the most common of all cases.
- With 27% of all instances, falls, slips, and trips were the second most frequent cause of occupational injuries.
- In 2019, the industry with the most significant incident rate of back injuries was transportation and warehousing.
- In 2019, the median number of days off from work due to back issues was 7.
- In 2020, thirty percent of all industrial injuries were related to musculoskeletal illnesses, which included back injuries.
Cost of Lower Back Injuries
The economic impact of back injuries, notably lower back pain, is staggering. Back injuries in the United States account for over 264 million lost workdays yearly, equivalent to two full workdays for every full-time worker. The direct costs of treating back injuries are also substantial. In the U.S., annual spending on back pain treatment is estimated to be between $50 billion and $100 billion.
- In the U.S., lower back pain can cost up to $635 billion annually.
- In 2018, workers' compensation costs related to back injuries were anticipated to have cost employers $51,051 per case.
- It was estimated in 2018 that back injuries cost US-based companies between $11 and $12 billion annually.
A Final Wrap Up
Yet, back injuries are a severe issue in the workplace. No matter your industry, it affects millions of workers every year. The impact of back injuries is far-reaching, from chronic back pain to permanent disability and significant cause for employers. Yet, with proper preventive measures and safety training, the risk of back injuries can be reduced, and workers' productivity can be increased.
