Borough Market wholesalers get back pain advice

Southwark Council's Environmental Health were at Borough Market to advise wholesalers and stall holders as part of the Health and Safety Executive's Better Backs Campaign 2006. An ergonomist from the HSE was on hand to talk to traders about carrying goods as well as managing back pain.

In London around 48,000 people suffer with back pain caused or made worse by work.

Men between the ages of 16-44 are much more likely to suffer with back pain than women, and research shows that back pain is the fifth most common reason for people to see their GP3.

"Surprisingly back pain will affect 80 percent of us at some point in our lives," says Gavin Bye of the Health and Safety Executive.

"The campaign being promoted at Borough Market aims to show people how staying active throughout a normal day can help them better manage back pain."

Other events in the Better Backs campaign have included exercise classes in Tesco's Old Kent Road store.