Healthy Workplaces Campaign 2020-22

LIGHTEN THE LOAD Kick-off Webinar

On the move – MSDs and avoiding prolonged static sitting at work

Safety and health at work is everyone’s concern. It’s good for you. It’s good for business.
Prolonged sitting at work

 Why prolonged sitting is a problem

 Why our next posture is the best posture

 How can we get moving at work

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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We sit a lot at work

 28% of workers sit at work almost all the time*

60% of workplaces report sitting as a risk factor**

Sources:
*European Working Conditions Survey 2015
**ESENER survey 2019

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Workers at risk

 Offices, call centers, cashiers, assembly

lines, drivers…
 Workers lacking control over how they
work
 Workers with a chronic MSD
 Women sit more than men at work*
*Eurofound, Sixth European Working Conditions Survey

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Health Effects
Pain

Premature Type 2
death
HEALTH EFFECTS diabetes

Certain types Cardiovascular

of cancer www.healthy-workplaces.eu diseases
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Move when sitting

 Experts reject the notion of a best sitting posture to be

maintained at all times
 Bodies are designed for movement
 Our next posture is the best posture

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Regulations

Employers must:
 Avoid and assess risks
 Adapt work to the individual
 Plan display screen work to allow breaks or changes of activity

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Guidance

Maximum of 2 hours sitting at a time

Get up every 20-30 minutes

Maximum of 5 hours sitting at work each day

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Workplace strategy for reducing sitting

Based on risk assessment, covering:

 Good prevention practice
 Specific measures to promote movement
 Leadership
 Culture that promotes active ways of
working
 Worker involvement
 Health promotion

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Moving at work - ideas for employers

 Motivate
 Stretching in meetings
 Printers, waste containers in common areas
 Standing areas
 Sit-stand desks
 Seating which allows posture change
 Fitness equipment
 Cordless phones…

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Moving at work – tips for individuals

 Go to your colleague’s office

 Stand up to use phone
 Mobile phone out of reach
 Take the stairs
 Stand for brief meetings
 Microbreaks
 Park your car further away
 ‘Screen break’ app or timer
 Sit-stand desk? Change posture
frequently…
www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Dynamic sitting

 Rock your pelvis back

 Shift your weight
 Stretch your neck
 Leaning back in seat
 Take micro breaks to stretch

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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 Some additional teleworking tips

 Wear comfortable clothing

 Take regular breaks
 Walk during a conference call
 Schedule stretching breaks during online meetings
 Set a time for exercise
 Don’t always sit at your desk

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Driving for work

Employers:
 Allow time for breaks
 Vehicles with adjustable seating
 Vibration reduction standards

Drivers:
 Adjust the seat
 Avoid leaning into the wheel
 Change posture
 Get out of the vehicle to eat or phone
www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Don’t substitute standing for prolonged sitting

 The opposite of sitting is moving

 Prolonged standing can cause health
problems and is tiring

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Get schools moving

 Adjustable ergonomic school furniture

 Enable children to change posture when
sitting
 Promote MSD health
 Involve children in creating an active
school
 Prevent risks to staff

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Napo gets active

Napo - Take a break

 https://www.napofilm.net/en/learning-with-na
po/napo-in-the-workplace/take-break

Napo - Keep moving at work

 https://www.napofilm.net/en/learning-with-na
po/napo-in-the-workplace/keep-moving-wor
k

 Napo image rights and permissions https://www.napofilm.net/en/using-

napo/rights-and-permissions
www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Discussion questions

1. What could your workplace do to encourage you to sit less

and move more?
2. What could you do to sit less and introduce more movement
and exercise into your working day?

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Conclusions

Move…
Stand
Sit

…because our next posture is the

best posture

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Further information

OSHwiki articles on prolonged sitting, prolonged standing,

promoting movement at work:
• https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/Musculoskeletal_disorders_and_prolonged_s
tatic_sitting

• https://oshwiki.eu/wiki/Musculoskeletal_disorders_and_prolonged_s
tatic_standing
• https://
oshwiki.eu/wiki/Promoting_moving_and_exercise_at_work_to_avoid
_prolonged_standing_and_sitting
 EU-OSHA website – MSDs theme :
https://osha.europa.eu/en/themes/musculoskeletal-disorders
 Practical tools and guidance:
https://healthy-workplaces.eu/en/tools-and-publications/practical-tool
www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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Join us and lighten the load!

Find out more on the campaign website:

healthy-workplaces.eu

Subscribe to our campaign newsletter:

https://healthy-workplaces.eu/en/healthy-workplaces-newsletter

#EUhealthyworkplaces

Keep up to date with activities and events through social media:

www.healthy-workplaces.eu

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