In this day and age I think we’ve all heard about the link between a sedentary lifestyle and reduced health. We’re eating more, exercising less and in turn we’re becoming overweight and unhealthy. Few people, however, understand the full extent that a sedentary job can have on long term health and well-being. This lifestyle is following us to the workplace.   With more and more of us behind a desk to earn a wage it’s little wonder that this issue is turning into a nationwide crisis and big business are starting to stand up and take notice (pardon the pun!)

Prolonged sitting poses significant risks to the health of workers and to the employers they work for. Sedentary behaviours from sitting result in little or no physical activity. Many workers spend 76 per cent of their time or approximately six hours sitting per day!

The risks are huge.  Sedentary lifestyles are a known risk factor for cancer, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and early death! Some other statistic complements of www.comcare.gov.au include:-

• People who sit for 11 hours or more a day are 40 per cent more likely to die within three years than those who sit for less than four hours.
• The risk of heart disease is increased by 50 per cent even if exercise is performed regularly
• Increased risk of physical injuries if a worker maintains a static posture
• The risk of colon cancer is doubled

Reduced sedentary practices can reduce the risk of musculoskeletal injury which can be very costly for employers. Costs arise from workers’ compensation, lost work time, rehabilitation costs and worker replacement costs just to name a few.

So what can you as an employer do about the health of your workers? How can you reduce the effects of sedentary work? Here are a few useful hints that are cost effective!

• Review workplace layout and revise job/task design to minimise sitting time for sedentary workers
• Vary work tasks throughout the day so that there is a change in posture and different types of muscles are used or alternate between sitting and standing e.g. find a reading area that requires you to stand
• Ensure a standing-friendly culture is promoted and supported, e.g. have a regular ‘standing’ agenda item and encourage staff to stand during meetings
• Use a height adjustable desk so workers can work either standing or sitting
• Use iMails – walk over and talk – instead of emails to colleagues
• Use the stairs instead of the lift
• Encourage workers to eat lunch away from their desk

Every bit of incidental; exercise and movement helps! If you would like to know more about encouraging standing in your workplace, please contact one of our helpful staff at Advantage Injury Management Services today!

Blog – Karly Stockwell (Occupational Therapist)