Special test for hidden health risks in the office

Aug 1 2008 By Scott Mcculloch

Firm offers free help to spot hazards

To the untrained eye an office may not seem to be an environment littered with safety pitfalls.

But the Health and Safety Executive says there are a number of hidden hazards in the workplace with the potential to create long-term health worries for staff.

Poorly designed furniture, uneven floor coverings and loose cabling all contribute to creating a potentially dangerous workspace.

According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, almost 450,000 UK workers have upper limb repetitive strain injuries caused by poorly designed office furniture.

And statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) say slips and trips are the single most common cause of injuries at work, and account for over a third of all major work injuries.

These injuries cost employers over £512million a year in lost production and other costs and account for over half of all reported injuries to members of the public.

To help employers recognise these hazards office design specialist as planned is offering employers a free "Office MOT" to ensure staff are fully protected against possible injury in the workplace.

The Dundee and Aberdeen based company is offering a free health check of office space to identify potential office hot spots which could lead to staff becoming ill or injured.

Andy Stewart, managing director of as planned, said a failure to pinpoint problem areas in the office environment and take immediate action could prove costly, both in terms of potential legal fees and worker compensation.

He cited a recent case in which a Scottish council was ordered to pay £10,000 compensation to an employee who injured her neck while stretching to use a computer.

Fife Council was ordered to pay social worker Brenda Downie damages after admitting they breached guidelines on the setting up of workstations. She was off work for six months and needed physiotherapy after she injured her neck while twisting and turning to reach a computer terminal.

Musculoskeletal disorders are now the biggest cause of sickness absence in the UK, with back pain being the most common.

A recent study by the British Chiropractic Association has shown that it is office workers who are at greatest risk of back problems, and not employees who have to lift items as part of their job.

The sedentary posture of most computer-using office workers is seen as a contributing factor to many lumbar problems.

Stewart said: "Our free Office MOT will assess office working conditions and offer advice on preventative action which could avoid health issues for staff and prevent costly compensation actions against employers."