Vocational rehabilitation
Along with normal activities, most workers should be able to return to some form of work within two weeks of a bout of back pain. Prolonged absence may indicate that:
- Further assessment is required, particularly to investigate any psychosocial issues.
- Further aspects of vocational rehabilitation need consideration, including:
- functional evaluation,
- worker training
- functional restoration
- social support
- modifications to the usual tasks
The involvement of worker representatives ensures openness, trust and fair application of the policy framework that is in place. Functional restoration is noted to be beneficial in complex cases.
Monitoring of back pain
There is value in collecting and analysing data on back pain in any organsiation. It allows trends to be distinguished and action taken as part of the overall health risk management process. The health professional is key to this task. HSE advice on health monitoring.
Examples of modified work proposals can be found via the following links:
/ Arabic
/ Bengali
/ Chinese
/ Farsi
/ Gujarati
/ Hindi
/ Kurdish
/ Pashto
/ Punjabi
/ Tamil
/ Urdu