Health hazards at work

Think your job is making you sick? You could be right.  We weren't programmed to sit at a desk for eight hours a day. Remaining immobile in the same sitting position can cause stresses and strains on our body that build up over time. Here are the most common health hazards associated with office work, and some ideas on how to fix them.

Its not a surprise to learn that looking at a computer screen all day could strain your eyes. Continually focusing on the same point a short distance away can affect your eyesight. Exercise your eye muscles 3 or 4 times an hour by focusing on something far away for about 30 seconds.  Make sure your head doesn't get closer than 35cm from the monitor.  An antiglare screen for your monitor may also help cut out eye strain and headaches.

2. Neck pain
A computer screen that is tucked away in one corner of your desk may save vital desk space but if you have to turn your neck to look at it - its also straining your neck muscles.  So is continually placing a phone in the crook of your neck.  Make sure you face your pc screen straight on and either get a headset for the phone or go hands free.

3. Back Pain

If you work in an office for a long time its quite likely that you'll suffer back pain at some point in your life.  Chances are you're not sitting properly at your desk.  First of all make sure you chair is fully adjustable and fits you properly.  The chair height and back should be adjusted to your requirements. To sit properly, rest your back against the back of the chair, make sure your pc screen is directly in front of you (ie you don't have to turn your neck to look at it.) Your feet should be on the floor and your elbows at your waist. This means the keyboard shouldn't be too far away from the edge of your desk. Use a wrist support if necessary.

Aside from the physical hazards, your job may have an element of stress assocaited with it. If this is the case, then its important to recognise 3 things.  

1. When stress is building up - ie are you feeling irritable, lack of sleep, suffering tension headaches?
2. What is causing the stress, if you are subject to a specific stressor you can tackle this head on within your work situation but if you are feeling generally stressed then it could be an accumulation of all the health hazards mentioned previously, coupled with lack of exercise all building up.
3. How to deal with it. Thinking positively, doing things outside work that you enjoy, tackling hte problem head on, meditation and getting more exercise will deal with most workplace stress.