Safety At Work (For the White-collar Worker)

Although it may not be immediately apparent, working from a desk can be very stressful for your body. White-collared jobs can encourage serious injuries, including cervical spondylosis, lumbar vertebra disease, or repetitive strain injuries, such as carpal tunnel. Chronic pain in the shoulders, wrist, neck, and eyes are standard in this line of work. Small, repetitive motions can aggravate such ailments. Repetitive strain injuries affect hundreds of thousands of American workers annually, leading to tens of billions of dollars annually in workers’ comp claims, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

What are some causes of repetitive strain disorders?

• Sitting in an unnatural posture for an extended period.
• Not allowing recovery time after an injury.
• Repetitive motions, such as using typing and clicking a mouse.

How to lessen the risk of injury on the job?

• Proper ergonomics are a crucial factor when avoiding injury. Your desk should ‘fit’ you like a great pair of shoes. How do you create the ideal environment?
• Practice a good, natural posture at your desk. Adjust the seating position of your office chair: Your back should be straight, and your arms should lay naturally. Your keyboard and mouse should be located comfortably in front of you. Your eyes should naturally point to the center of the computer screen.
• Avoid slouching to use the computer or tucking your feet underneath your chair. Sitting tall and confident will lessen back, neck, and shoulder strain.
• Get moving! It is suggested to get up and move around five minutes every hour. Also, take smaller breaks to rest your eyes and hands a few times each hour. Spending extended periods sitting at your desk creates poor circulation, resulting in muscle tension.
• Tightness, strain, and pain in the body – especially back, neck, wrist, and eyes – are very common for the white-collared worker.

In my next post, I will explain how to improve your well-being in the office and list a few simple exercises you can perform while you work. In the meantime, here is a wonderful link to ten exercises you can do in the office to increase circulation. https://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/diet-fitness/exercise-at-work/10-office-exercises-you-can-do-secretly.htm