In 2008/9, nearly 30 million working days were lost due to workplace injury and ill-health. Stress and back pain are the two biggest causes of absence from work.
There are many things that workers can do not only to reduce their risk of work-related ill-health but also to use their time at work to boost their health.
Stress
About 11.4 million days were lost because of work-related stress, depression and anxiety in 2008/9. While not all stress is work-related, knowing how to deal with excessive pressure at work is critical.
Learn to identify the symptoms of stress. Don’t wait for it to make you ill before you do something about it. One of the best ways of dealing with stress is knowing how to prioritise your workload and not taking on more than you can handle. Read more in Beating stress at work.
Back pain
About 9.3 million working days were lost due to work-related back pain and other musculoskeletal disorders in 2008/9. The main causes of it are poor posture or an awkward twisting movement (bending or reaching), or a combination of the two.
In most cases, the best treatment is to stay active and, if necessary, use over-the-counter painkillers. You may feel like going to bed, but this won’t help and could make things worse. The longer you stay immobile, the weaker your back muscles will become and the more they'll hurt in the long term. For tips on keeping a healthy back, read more in Back pain at work.
RSI
Repetitive strain injury (RSI) is more likely to occur if you spend long periods of work without a break, or if you sit on an uncomfortable chair or at a poorly arranged workstation. Incorrect technique when using a computer keyboard and mouse, mobile phone or hand-held device can all cause RSI.
Modern technology isn't solely responsible. Anyone who uses certain muscles repeatedly can get RSI. This includes factory assembly-line workers, musicians, tailors and cleaners. Read more in Preventing RSI.
Sitting
If you spend a lot of your time at work sitting at a desk, make sure you're sitting in the right position in relation to your computer. If you're unsure about correct posture, ask your line manager for a workplace assessment.
If you work on a computer a lot, it's important to take regular breaks. That means for every hour at your keyboard you should rest for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Read more in Are you sitting comfortably?.
Exercise
It isn’t always easy to fit physical activity into our busy lives. Many of us spend long hours at work and may have a long and tiring commute. Getting active at work is easier than you may think. Here are some tips for building exercise into your working day:
- Cycle or walk part, if not all, of your journey to work. Get off one bus or tube stop before your final destination.
- Walk over to someone's desk at work rather than speaking to them by phone.
- Take the stairs instead of the lift. Or get out of the lift a few floors early, then use the stairs.
- Use your lunch break to exercise. Your office may have a gym, or you may have access to a nearby swimming pool or squash courts.
Improving your general fitness and losing weight if you need to will also benefit your posture and help to prevent injury. For more ideas on working exercise into your working day, check out our Fitness articles.
Lifting
One of the biggest causes of back injury, especially at work, is lifting or handling objects incorrectly. Learning and following the correct method for lifting and handling objects can help prevent back pain.
Here are some key points to lift safely:
- Think before you lift.
- Start in a good position.
- Keep the load close to your waist.
- Avoid twisting your back or leaning sideways.
- Keep your head up.
- Know your limits.
- Push, don't pull.
- Distribute the weight evenly.
For more information on correct lifting techniques and safe manual handling, read our guide to lifting safely.
Eating
We consume at least a third of our daily calorie intake while at work. What we eat and drink affects not just our health but our work performance too. If we don't eat regular well-balanced meals or drink enough water, we may get headaches, feel sluggish or have difficulty concentrating.
Whether you buy your lunch from a sandwich shop, café, supermarket or work canteen, there are usually plenty of healthy lunch options available. Bringing in your own lunch is also a good idea because you know exactly what's in your lunchbox and it'll save you money. You could either prepare sandwiches or a salad, or bring leftovers from your evening meal. For healthy eating ideas, check out the healthy eating section.
Go to the Health for Work website for more information about staying healthy at work or how to support employees or colleagues with health issues. You can also call their adviceline on 0800 0 77 88 44.
