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