Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
Abstract National accident statistics showed overstraining to be the major cause for back injuries, and that trauma, in particular falls, included nearly all other accidents affecting the back and spine. Hospital-work, home nursing and patient treatment together constituted not less than 42% of all the notified back injuries caused by overstraining. It was found that the frequency of low back complaints is high among plumbers, slaughterhouse workers, forklift truck-drivers as well as hospital porters, nurses and assistant nurses. Housewives had as much low back trouble as women in work generally. Examples of tabulations based upon readily available national statistics are presented. Thus, the rates of industrial accidents related to the back in various main occupational groups are produced for the whole of Denmark, both for accidents notified to the Department of Accident Statistics of the Labour Inspection Service and for the more severe accidents registered by the National Social Security Office, Industrial Injuries Insurance. It is to be stressed that it is possible to obtain more detailed statistics regarding accident rates for various subdivisions of the main occupational groupings by use of the registers at the National Bureau of Statistics. In the accident statistics presented, it was found that overstraining was the major cause of back injuries, and that trauma, in particular falls, included nearly all other accidents affecting the back and spine. Hospital work, home nursing and patient treatment together constituted not less than 42% of all notified back injuries caused by overstraining. That the handling of humans is probably the major cause in these accidents is also verified. Calculated rates-of applications for premature retirement because of back disorders is given for various occupational groups. Investigations of various occupational groups in Denmark shows that the frequency of low-back complaints is high among plumbers, slaughterhouse workers and fork-lift-truck drivers, as well as hospital porters, nurses and assistant nurses. It is noticed that housewives have as much low-back trouble as women in work generally.
Fin Biering‐Sørensen (Tue,) studied this question.