DWP AnD BACk PAin
Pain and work
A personal account of the Department of Work and Pensions strategy on people with back pain,
by Dr Andrew Auty.
With apologies in advance to the
DWP (Department of Work and
Pensions) who have crafted their ●
For decades now it has been ‘obvious’ that work is the main cause
of back pain among the working or recently working population. The
general public have accepted this view into popular culture; after
way through the back pain political all, people who frequently get back pain report that it is worse after lifting
quagmire with admirable tact and or twisting at work. Health and safety guidelines explain how work is the
written genius. The following is to problem. Politicians assume it. Journalists assume it. It is therefore: a fact.
selectively paraphrase publications
and policies produced by the DWP, But is it a Good Fact or a Bad Fact? • Staying at or quickly returning to work
but in a rather personal style, and Is it a Fact? is one of the best ways to accelerate
very much more abruptly. recovery from back pain.
It is a Good Fact when: • The work can’t be changed to suit
Sources of funding: None • If hurt by work you will be told to go you?
home and get medical help. • Mismanagement of back pain is
Conflicts of interest: None • The cause can be identified and fixed one of the main causes of leaving
before you get back to work. employment, permanently.
Address for correspondence: • Work can even be designed to
Dr Andrew Auty prevent back pain. Your view of causation will be influenced
Chair of Trustees • Compensation for pain and suffering by personal and national politics. As a
BackCare and loss of earnings is there as a defender of the right to normal health you
267 Marston Road safety net if your employer should will urge the avoidance of any elevated
Marston have done something to protect you, risk, as a defender of the right to work
Oxford OX3 0EW and didn’t. you will urge that back pain can be
andrew@reliabilityoxford.co.uk managed at work. Your view of causation
It is a Bad Fact if: will be influenced by the meaning you
• Most back pain at work isn’t actually attach to it. This is a can of worms that
caused by work. [but it may be more most would choose to avoid. But we at
intense at work] BackCare must get involved: our mission
is to help reduce the burden of back pain
on individuals and in society. The DWP
must get involved if avoidable unwanted
worklessness is to be tackled.
So what are the DWP doing?
As is usual when opinion is hotly divided
even the DWP has to start by saying,
“There is a balance to be struck”.
On the one hand…
Sometimes work does lead
to back injury e.g. falling from
a work platform, being struck
by something heavy, slipping,
overstraining while lifting a
patient etc. and the ‘good fact’
then helps all concerned to choose
appropriately. There is
tissue damage, it must
6 The Backcare Journal
backcare Winter 2009/10.indd 6 8/1/10 11:18:41
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