THE NFU has urged farmers in Yorkshire and the North-East to spend time on ways to avoid back pain.

This week is European week for safety and health and Mr David Collier, the NFU regional technical adviser, said back pain was responsible for a great deal of time off work and considerable suffering.

Causes in agriculture include falls from heights, poor lifting practices, and poor posture while driving tractors.

Mr Collier said the NFU and the Health and Safety Executive had prepared guidance on assessing risks and on handling heavy or awkward objects. Farmers were encouraged to put the guidance into practice.

The NFU was particularly pleased with the response of the JSR farming group, based near Driffield in East Yorkshire. JSR, one of Britain's biggest farming companies, organised a series of events and information packs under the title "Turn your back on back pain". All 200 employees would be encouraged to raise their awareness of the causes of back pain and how to prevent injury.

"We work hard to avoid accidents, but they do happen" said Hazel Preece. "In the year to March 31 some 19pc of accidents on JSR farms resulted in a back injury, and in the country as a whole back pain is the largest single reported cause of absence from work.