What injuries cost employers
Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back pain are one of the biggest causes of sickness absence on any given day and account for nearly a third of the total time taken off sick from work. Yet they are also easy to address with low cost and effective Physiotherapy interventions.
Each person with a MSD takes an estimated 17.2 days off work on average. Employers may also be subject to compensation claims from sick or injured staff. Managers and employers need to be aware what is happening in their organisation by encouraging staff to report problem in confidence and by monitoring and understanding sickness absence.
Business Examples
- Anglian Water reduced direct absence costs by £289,000 through the use of a Physiotherapy based programme with a return of on investment of £3 for every £1 spent. In addition claims for back pain reduced by 50% and ill-health retirement by 90%.
- York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust cut its long term sickness rates by more than 40 % through early intervention with physiotherapy. The number of staff off work for more than four weeks dropped from 99 to 57 and the number of staff off sick for more than three months dropped from 52 to 28. The project cost £100,000 but has saved the trust £200,000.
- AstraZeneca -“Wellbeing in AstraZeneca” 2000. Through the provision of rehabilitation and treatment services such as physiotherapy, and health promotion such as sports facilities and health screening, the company has saved £200,000 a year in health insurance spend and absence levels are 31 % lower than average levels.
- The Royal Mail’s occupational support and therapy programme, including physiotherapy, has had substantial financial benefits, with the programme providing a return of approximately £5 for every £1 invested. Absence was cut by 25% between 2004 and 2007.
If your company has five or more employees then The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a duty on you to have a written statement on Health and Safety. At United Health we can help you fulfill these obligations and maintain a healthy workforce. For more information on our services please contact us at;
