Rate ratios (RR) of short (3–7 days) and long (>7 days) absences due to low back pain according to work related physical factors
| Short absenteeism | Long absenteeism | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Risk factor | Absences of 3–7 days n (workers† (n)) | Adjusted RR (95% CI*)§ (n=688) | Absences of >7 days n (workers‡ (n)) | Adjusted RR (95% CI*)§ (n=751) |
| *95% CI, 95% confidence interval; †from the cohort of 988 workers, data on the reasons for all absences of 3–7 days were available for 789 workers, for 759 of these 789 workers, data were available on all work related physical factors presented in this table; ‡from the cohort of 988 workers, data on the reasons for all absences of more than 7 days were available for 878 workers, for 840 of these 878 workers, data were available on all work related physical factors presented in this table; §rate ratio from Poisson regression, adjusted for sex, age, smoking, body mass index, exercise behaviour during leisure time, coping skills (active problem solving, avoidance behaviour, social support seeking), quantitative job demands, decision authority, skill discretion, supervisor support, co worker support, job security, job satisfaction, moving of heavy loads during leisure time, flexion or rotation of the upper part of the body during leisure time, driving a vehicle during leisure time, and driving a vehicle at work. | ||||
| Percentage of the working time with trunk flexed ≥30°: | ||||
| ≤5 | 31 (465) | 1.00 | 59 (523) | 1.00 |
| 5–10 | 15 (127) | 1.56 (0.74 to 3.20) | 22 (144) | 1.07 (0.59 to 1.89) |
| 10–15 | 11 (78) | 1.35 (0.55 to 3.07) | 39 (85) | 3.21 (1.91 to 5.34) |
| 15–20 | 6 (38) | 2.18 (0.74 to 5.60) | 18 (38) | 3.66 (1.86 to 6.91) |
| >20 | 7 (51) | 1.17 (0.43 to 2.82) | 17 (50) | 2.93 (1.55 to 5.33) |
| Percentage of the working time with trunk flexed: | ||||
| ≤5 ≥30° | 31 (465) | 1.00 | 59 (523) | 1.00 |
| 5–10 ≥30° | 15 (127) | 1.59 (0.76 to 3.26) | 22 (144) | 1.07 (0.59 to 1.88) |
| >10 ≥30° and ≤5 ≥60° | 16 (107) | 1.69 (0.80 to 3.47) | 48 (116) | 3.08 (1.90 to 4.96) |
| >5 ≥60° | 8 (60) | 1.15 (0.46 to 2.63) | 26 (57) | 3.49 (2.03 to 5.89) |
| Percentage of working time with trunk rotated ≥ 30°: | ||||
| ≤5 | 43 (582) | 1.00 | 84 (648) | 1.00 |
| 5–10 | 21 (134) | 1.52 (0.78 to 2.89) | 56 (147) | 2.30 (1.51 to 3.47) |
| >10 | 6 (43) | 1.04 (0.37 to 2.56) | 15 (45) | 2.54 (1.30 to 4.71) |
| Number of lifts/8 hour working day: | ||||
| Never | 14 (259) | 1.00 | 20 (281) | 1.00 |
| Never ≥10 kg/working day | 12 (118) | 2.68 (1.13 to 6.46) | 27 (152) | 3.19 (1.72 to 6.01) |
| Never ≥25 kg/working day | 21 (232) | 1.46 (0.64 to 3.44) | 54 (246) | 2.99 (1.68 to 5.54) |
| 1–15 ≥25 kg/working day | 18 (92) | 2.46 (0.96 to 6.41) | 30 (99) | 2.78 (1.40 to 5.58) |
| >15 ≥25 kg/working day | 5 (58) | 0.89 (0.24 to 2.89) | 24 (62) | 3.26 (1.52 to 6.98) |