OCCUPATIONAL FACTORS AFFECTING SICK LEAVE ATTRIBUTED TO LOW-BACK-PAIN

Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine the occupational factors that cause workers to take sick leave attributed to low-back pain. Methods Twice, with a 24-month interval, 117 white- and 189 blue -collar employees from 2 metal industry companies completed a question naire on recurrent low-back pain and exposure to potential risk factor s (biomechanical loads, physical environment, psychosocial factors) at work. Sick leave was monitored for the period between the questionnai res. Results Low-back pain was predicted by exposure to harmful biomec hanical loads among both white-and blue-collar workers [odds ratio (OR ) 4.1 and 4.7, respectively), stress among white-collar workers (OR 2. 4), and draft among blue-collar workers (OR 2.3). The take-up of sick leave was predicted by exposure to harmful biomechanical loads [rate r atio (RR) 1.7]; for sick leaves attributed to low-back pain the rate r atio was 3.1. Lack of recognition and respect at work predicted sick l eave attributed to low-back pain (RR 2.0), but not sick leave attribut ed to other disorders. Conclusions Recurrent low-back pain is preceded by reports of harmful biomechanical loads at work among white-and blu e-collar workers, by stress among white-collar workers and by draft am ong blue-collar workers. The environmental and psychosocial factors un der study did not modify the relation between biomechanical loads and recurrent low-back pain. Sick leave attributed to back disorders is pr eceded by exposure to biomechanical loads at work and by a lack of rec ognition and respect at work among blue-collar workers. Biomechanical lending seems to be the most important occupational factor predicting both recurrent low-back pain and sick leave attributed to back disorde rs. Lack of recognition and respect at work appear to affect sick leav e attributed to back disorders.