An Isle of Wight team providing advice on back care has won the top award in a national competition aimed at reducing workplace injuries among NHS staff.
The Back in Work Awards, which was run by NHS Employers with the Health and Safety Executive, celebrate the best of NHS occupational health and safety practice in reducing back and other musculoskeletal injuries.
Injuries from manual handling accidents account for 40 per cent of all sickness absence in the NHS and cost the service about £400m each year.
Campaign organiser Mary Newsome said one in four nurses had taken time off work with a back injury sustained at work.
“Some people have had to end their careers and some are so badly affected they even find simple household tasks difficult or impossible,” she said.
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“Workforce injuries are a very important issue. By tackling it head on, NHS employers will gain healthier, happier staff who are fit for work.”
