Keep fit at work, says IOSH

Wed 16 Jan 2008

The best new year's resolution would be to keep fit and healthy at work, the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has claimed.

It advised workers to check their workstations and ensure they have the correct posture so as to help prevent musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).

The institute has claimed these are the most common cause of occupational illness in the UK.

"People are normally twisting and turning in their seats all day," Ray Hurst, IOSH president said. "This is due to a lot of people in swivel chairs pointing away from their computer screen while working without even realising it."

He advised that office workers could improve their health by changing their position throughout the day, making small adjustments to their chairs and seating positions and walking around for a few minutes.

MSDs include lower back pain, joint injuries, repetitive strain injuries and he noted, are "preventable in the workplace".