Low Back Pain Caused by Occupational Lifting — Workmen’s Compensation in Denmark

Abstract

The Danish workers’ compensation scheme is about 100 years old. For a number of years, the Danish legislation on industrial injuries included only accidents, but in the course of the 1970s the Act was amended so that it also became possible to recognize occupational diseases. The Danish system is based on insurance companies. Private employers are under an obligation to take out industrial injuries insurance with an insurance company which has been licensed to effect industrial injuries insurance. In this way, the insurance companies pay out the compensation and defray the costs of administration of the worker’s compensation scheme, whereas the National Board of Industrial Injuries makes the decisions regarding recognition of industrial injuries as well as payment of compensation.