A cross-sectional study of back belt use and low back pain amongst forklift drivers

Purpose: To determine the association between back belt usage and back pain amongst forklift drivers exposed to whole-body vibration (WBV).Method: Cross-sectional analytical study design amongst 158 drivers using back belts and 39 controls. Back pain was assessed using a Standardised Nordic Questionnaire for musculoskeletal disorders and WBV was measured on a sample of forklifts as per ISO 2631.Results: Compliance with belt usage was 90%. Eighty-nine percent of drivers reported back pain ever; and back pain after driving was associated with vibration intensity and work area. Belt usage was associated with back pain after driving on multivariate analysis. When restricting analysis to back belt users alone, frequency of usage was associated with increased rates of back pain.Conclusions: In a high WBV-exposed group, back belt usage was not associated with decreased risk of LBP. Users appeared to have increased LBP, although the relationship may be due to selection bias due to non-random assignment of back belt condition. Relevance to industry: back belt use for WBV exposed professional drivers should not be considered as a valid control measure to reduce the prevalence and intensity of LBP.