| Health and safety in the workplace has | | | | debilitating it really is, rendering |
| never been so stringent, as companies | | | | many people completely immobile. So it's |
| strive to minimise the risks that are | | | | worth having a work-station assessment |
| inherent in any work space. From the | | | | done to pre-empt any underlying issues. |
| employer's point of view, not only do | | | | Most employers will be more than happy |
| they want a healthy and happy | | | | to arrange for such an assessment, and |
| environment for their staff, but should | | | | any proposed changes are likely to be no |
| an employee fall victim to any of the | | | | more than adjusting the height of a seat |
| countless hazards they may face on a | | | | or investing in an ergonomic keyboard or |
| daily basis, the employer will | | | | riser for the computer monitor. |
| ultimately be held responsible. | | | | Furthermore, it's estimated that some 7 |
| One of the most common work-related | | | | million adults in the UK have long-term |
| injuries is back pain. And despite all | | | | health problems due to arthritis and |
| the precautions and procedures that are | | | | other related conditions, and is the |
| taken, 8 out of 10 people still | | | | second most common reason for being |
| experience some kind of back problem | | | | absent from work in both men and women. |
| during their working lives. Although | | | | Again, workers in certain occupations |
| technology has helped alleviate much of | | | | seem to have a higher risk of developing |
| the manual labour that has traditionally | | | | arthritis, particularly those who are in |
| lead to back injuries, it may surprise | | | | high-demand jobs such as assembly line |
| some people to discover that one of the | | | | workers or heavy construction. |
| chief reasons for back pain is actually | | | | Fortunately, with advances in medical |
| desk-based, with poor ergonomics the | | | | science, such ailments are becoming |
| root cause. | | | | increasingly more treatable without the |
| Anybody who has ever suffered from any | | | | need to resort to drugs. |
| kind of back injury will verify how | | | | |