THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found around 10 million work days are lost from absence due to muscular and skeletal pain as result of poor posture in the workplace.
It estimates an average absence of around 20 days per case per year.
In a bid to combat this loss and to improve efficiency in the work place, the HSE states if a business employs staff who spend a lot of time using computers it has a duty under health and safety regulations to make sure they are not at risk of injury or discomfort.
Common problems include aches and pains in the upper limbs, sometimes known as repetitive strain injury (RSI), headaches and stress.
To reduce risks, employees should be made aware of correct posture for computer use and take regular breaks from looking at the screen.
Employers must ensure staff have adjustable chairs, are not overcrowded, provide eye tests on request and offer training so workers know how they should use their workstations.
The HSE provides specific guidance on seating and posture appropriate for office work at a desk. Important factors to consider are good lower back support, having forearms parallel to the desk, limiting wrist movement and having a space in front of the keyboard to rest hands on.
For more information, visit the website hse.gov.uk
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