According to the Health and Safety Executive, British business loses an estimated 4.9 million days to employee absenteeism through work-related back conditions each year, with each affected employee taking an average of 19 days off work, (ref.2003/4 Labour Force Survey).

According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) 2007 Absence Management Survey;

• The direct cost of absence per employee among manufacturing and production organisations was £726 per employee per year. (Indirect costs are estimated to be at least this amount).
• The average annual absence level for manual workers was 9.8 days per employee per year.
• Over 58% of manual workers cited back-pain as the leading cause of long term absence.
• Less than half of organisations monitor the cost of absence.

Therefore,

Absence costs per employee per year	= £1452
(£726 direct + £726 indirect costs)
Absence costs per employee per day	= £148
(£1452 / 9.8 days)
Typical absence costs per back injury incident	= £2812
From the HSE data, an affected employee with back injury has 19 days absence X £148 = £2812

These costs are due to absenteeism through back injury.

If liability claims are reduced or avoided, the cost benefits will be substantial.

If liability claims without merit are discouraged, significant time and cost benefits will be achieved.

There are also considerable intangible benefits with respect to promoting employee health and welfare.

BACK-TRACK demonstrates to employees that their welfare is paramount.