Side Back Pain
IS WORK A PAIN IN THE BACK?
by Anonymous
For Immediate Release: January 15 2002
IS WORK A PAIN IN THE BACK?
2 OUT OF 3 SMALL BUSINESSES IN THE UK HAVE STAFF WITH BACK PROBLEMS
- euroffice launches for the New Year a new range of ergonomic furniture and accessories online -
New statistics reveal 2 out of 3 small businesses in the UK have staff with back problems*. With back pain being the leading cause of disability in the workplace, over 1 million people in the UK claim to be disabled by back pain and 1 in 8 unemployed people cite back pain as the reason they are not working. In an attempt to control this problem, euroffice – (www.euroffice.co.uk) - has launched a new range of ergonomic office furniture and accessories on its site.
George Karibian, co-founder of euroffice, said:
“We were astounded by the number of office workers suffering from neck ache and back pain. But for many small to medium sized businesses the cost of investing in ergonomic furniture and accessories was seen as prohibitive. The fact is, UK small businesses are losing millions of pounds in lost revenues each year as a result.”
Although 75% of staff with back problems have jobs where they are required to do lifting in their daily work role, the number of office based workers complaining of back and neck ache is growing at an alarming rate. 50% of workers sitting at desks, spending over 2 hours a day on the telephone or PC, reported neck ache while 31% reported lower back pain.
Dr Victoria Parker MMBBS, said:
“Bed rest has now been proven to make backache worse, although 25% of doctors will still recommend it. Research has found that returning to work as soon as possible is the best remedy. You are less likely to need painkillers and will feel healthier and happier. Seeking manipulation or massage is advised, but you should always contact your GP for advice first. However I always prescribe preventative measures. As with any profession, the correct tools are necessary to carry out tasks in a safe and efficient manner, with office workers this is no different. A good chair, wrist pads and the correct positioning of a computer monitor are essential for the well being of an employee.”
Top Tips for a pain free back from euroffice are:
1. Make sure your chair is high enough.
2. Your forearms should be at right angles to your upper arms, with fingers sloping down onto your keyboard below.
3. Don’t arch your back. This causes your spine to curve and your shoulders to droop. Push your pelvis back slightly, so that your spine straightens.
4. Invest in a good chair. The back of the chair should support the small of the back. If it doesn’t, use a footrest.
5. The computer screen should be positioned so that you are looking very slightly down at it, with your eyes dropping at an angle of about 30 degrees.
6. Take regular breaks, at least every 40 minutes, getting up from your chair and walking around for a minute or so.
Research shows that in the majority of cases slouching in front of a computer all day causes lower back pain in office workers. Sitting correctly at your workstation can improve backache dramatically, and it has been shown that productivity can be increased by as much as 15% and will reduce the chances of suffering from headaches, fatigue or repetitive strain injury (RSI).
Euroffice has today launched a new range of ergonomic furniture. This new section features a wide selection of chairs, footrests, wrist pads and keyboards at prices 20-80% lower than if purchased through existing channels. Through euroffice, businesses can buy over 10,000 products sourced from 250 leading manufacturers, with a further 10,000 products available on request. The product selection ranges from core office materials, business machines and computer supplies to office furniture. The euroffice service provides compelling value to the smaller business.
*Source: BackCare, the Forum of Private Business and the TUC
-
ENDS -
About the euroffice
Euroffice (www.euroffice.co.uk) is the leading online office products company serving small/mid-sized businesses in the UK. Euroffice offers over 20,000 products in the following categories: office supplies, computer supplies, toner cartridges, business machines and furniture. Through euroffice's sub-account system small businesses can automate their purchasing procedures, enforce budgets and policies, and customise management reports and accounting downloads.
For further information, please contact:
Pamela Shabi
(GTH Media Relations)
Tel: 020 7467 0607
George Karibian
(euroffice.co.uk)
Tel: 0800 316 3876
This article courtesy of http://www.side-back-pain.com. You may freely reprint this article on your website or in your newsletter provided this courtesy notice and the author name and URL remain intact.