Solicitors Morgan Cole, with offices in Cardiff, Swansea and Southern England have joined a host of Welsh businesses to help raise awareness of back pain in the workplace. According to the Health and Safety Executive it is estimated that back pain is responsible for 9.5 million lost working days in the UK, with an average of 17.3 days absence for each person suffering from back pain.

Maureen Parry, Human Resources Manager at Morgan Cole Solicitors in Wales and Bristol believes that their Health and Safety policy is to thank for the low numbers of staff suffering from back pain within the organization. With nearly 450 employees, Maureen is proud to say that the UK law firm is particularly proactive when it comes to dealing and sympathizing with back pain.

Maureen explains,

"With anyone experiencing back pain we have instigated Occupational Health Assessments via a local independent practitioner with a view to being able to follow their recommendations on how we can aid the employee. These recommendations can range from providing a new chair to having a specialized workstation assessment which covers every aspect of the working environment for someone with a back problem."

Having suffered from back pain herself and twice undergone back surgery, Maureen is grateful to the company for being so supportive of her problem.

"I have a new chair and equipment to help me with work on my desk and a new desk. I do feel we have a good balance of return to work interviews and HR led meetings with employees who have been absent from work".