Background Back pain shape an occupational health problem with social and economic repercussions, especially when associated with functional disabilities.

Objective to describe the reported cases regarding back pain and work-related disability in Brazil.

Methods case-by-case basis study of work-related back pain registered as Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) in Brazil, from 2006 to 2012. The source of secondary data was the Brazilian Case Registry Database, Ministry of Health. Sociodemographic and occupational variables have been analysed by their frequency and incidence rates (IR) for back pain and permanent disability estimated as well.

Results In the past six years there were 8,172 cases of back pain registered. The IR of work-related back pain was 1.1 per 100,000 workers in 2006 and 1.9 per 100,000 in 2012 and the CI: of work-related disability was 0.12 per 100,000 in 2006 to 0.10 per 100,000 in 2012.

Conclusion The worker profile with functional disability demonstrates the social magnitude of the aggravation, leading to premature removal from the labour market in their full productivity capacity. The research reflects the need for vigilance and compliance with working conditions that maintain both health and productive labour force.