Back pains constitute a civilization-related disease and a true social calamity. Together with headaches, back pains represent the most common pain syndromes reported by patients to physicians of various specializations 60-90% of people experience a single episode of pain at least once in a lifetime. The scope of the study was to determine the frequency and types of back pains related to the performance of work in a hard coal mine. Material and methodology: The study included 417 employees and consisted in surveying, data collection, medical examinations and additional tests. The study was conducted in the work environment of a modern company, highly- mechanized, with good standing and job security. In view of this, it was assumed that the employees have equal standards of living and are not exposed to the impact of psychological and social factors on the incidence of back pains. The type and duration of the treatment was also considered in the study, as well as possible return of employees to the same work stand. Results: The frequency of the occurrence of back pains corresponds to the level of load on the spine, age and work experience in employees under 50, with 11-15 years of work experience, and then it falls. localized pain was found in 49.2% of the tested miners, stretch signs in 14%. In the younger miners group 83.6% work underground, and 76.3% perform works involving substantial load on the spine; in the older miners group it is only 5.4%. 3.4% of all tested miners changed their work-stand, and 0.6% took advantage of the disability benefits. Conclusions: The relation between the occurrence of back pains and age was confirmed. The relation between years of work experience in mining and increased prevalence of spinalgia was not documented. The determination of the ergonomics of the work-stand is required for further investigation of this relation.