Work-related upper back, shoulder and neck discomfort are generally observed more in workers with sedentary, desk-based roles. Since March 2020 and the shift to home working, I have noticed an increase in the prevalence of upper back, shoulder and neck discomfort among employees I have carried out DSE assessments with. In this episode, I am...
There is no doubt that low back and leg pain is a significant issue for people that work in computer and desk-based jobs. This discomfort may be present at the workstation and can also impact quality of life outside of work. According to the Global Burden of Disease study of 2001, back pain has been...
Computer workstation lighting is always important, but as we move into the winter, with shorter days and cloudy overcast weather, I usually start to see an increase in symptoms of eye strain and queries about appropriate lighting when working from home when conducting home workstation assessments. This episode will cover considerations for home workstation lighting...
Back to the workplace for Episode 24! Menopause is a natural transition in life and the reality is that if you menstruate, it can be assumed that you will go through this transition in your lifetime. Given the evolution of the workforce and push to keep people working longer, a high percentage of employees are...
Taking a step away from the workplace for this episode! To celebrate our HSE National Breastfeeding Week (1st – 7th October) I am highlighting the risks associated with breastfeeding that can cause musculoskeletal discomfort and what you can do to stay comfortable when feeding your baby. As a mother of 2 children, both of whom...
There is a large focus in the workplace, and rightly so, on ensuring that the physical equipment is suitable for the employees using them. When employees report physical issues with the workplace this can be easily measured and the workplace adapted as required based on symptoms and use. However, when it comes to neurodivergent employees,...
In the last episode, I outlined what we as carer’s should be aware of to ensure healthy ergonomic practices and musculoskeletal development in children and adolescents, but what about the educators? Teaching is a physically and cognitively demanding job. Teacher health and quality of life has been found to be influenced by working conditions, musculoskeletal...
Ergonomics and human factors is all about designing and optimising tasks, environments and equipment to promote musculoskeletal health and comfort. This applies not just to work settings, but also to the play and study environments of young people. As we approach the start of the school year, I feel it is important to highlight the...
As our work, learning and leisure time becomes more digitised, for a lot of us our exposure to display screens has likely never been higher. While this has allowed us to work remotely, learn remotely and stay connected, it has also increased the prevalence of and the risk of developing digital eye strain. Digital Eye...
Driving, whether we do it for a living or as part of our day to day lives, presents a risk of musculoskeletal discomfort and injury and I am not talking about potential car accidents! The more time we spend in the car, the higher the risk. In this episode, I will outline the risk factors...
