Abstract

Back injuries account for 23.5% of work-related injuries among Québec construction workers. An IRSST-funded study conducted in 1996 had revealed that case management that takes into account the diversity of ergonomic, psychosocial and physical factors responsible for back pain accelerated the return-to-work process and significantly improved the health status of injured workers. This new project will help obtain the necessary tools to develop and test an early case management program based on collaboration between a CSST rehabilitation counsellor and an interdisciplinary rehabilitation team. The results will benefit construction workers by reducing both the duration of disability and the functional after-effects of industrial accidents resulting in back injuries.