Slouching home workers: sit up at pay attention!
People working from home are placing strain on their bodies and risking back problems by not sitting at a desk and failing to adopt the correct posture, according to research by Fellowes.
The research found that 42% of home workers sit on the sofa while working and 22% work in bed. While these places may be comfortable initially, working in that way for a long period of time can put the body under strain and cause aches and pains.
With the TUC reporting that 3.7 million people in the UK are currently working from home, postural problems caused by inefficient workspaces could affect a significant proportion of the UK workforce.
Moreover, even though 34% of British workers complain of backache, only 20% of all workers use footrests and only 14% have a back rest, which can make a huge difference to sitting comfortably.
Fellowes is running a campaign to help people work more ergonomically, whether they are office-based or work from home. As part of the campaign, the manufacturer offers the following five tips to help ensure you are working comfortably:
• Avoid a slouching back. Good posture is achieved by sitting back into your chair. A back support and foot support will help you to sit correctly.
• One in four of us suffers from pain or injury caused by pressure on the wrists. Wrist supports help to relieve this pressure and prevent potential injuries.
• If you want to prevent severe neck pain (it accounts for almost a third of all absences from work), make sure you are sitting approximately an arm’s length away from your screen and it’s at the correct height for comfortable viewing (eye level is recommended). A laptop or monitor riser will help you to achieve the correct position.
• Accessories you use frequently should be within easy reach.
Work smart - and stay organised!
• Last but not least, remember to take regular breaks - away from your desk and technology.
To find out how your workplace measures up and how you can improve your workplace posture, Fellowes is providing a free workstation assessment at http://www.ergo.fellowes.com/en/workstation-assessment.
