TUC tells workers to sit down for their rights
Over ten million British workers who have to stand up for prolonged periods could face serious health problems, according to a new report.
Shopworkers, teachers, library staff and production line worker are among those at risk of lower limb disorders from spending excessive amounts of time on their feet, says the TUC.
The report says that over two million sick days a year are lost due to lower limb disorders, with 200,000 people reporting ailments caused by or made worse by their job.
Work-related varicose veins, poor circulation, joint damage, foot problems and swelling in the legs are among the problems faced by workers who spend most of the day on their feet.
And despite health and safety regulations requiring the provision of adequate seating at work, there have only been five enforcement actions by the Health and Safety Executive since 1996.
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: “There really isn’t any need for the excessive standing on the job that this report highlights. Most jobs don’t need people to be on their feet all day and bosses need to get over the fact that someone sat down is protecting their health, not being lazy.”
“Simple adjustments to the way millions of people work will save countless sick days each year and stop British workers from, in some cases, dying on their feet.”
The report, which appears in the TUC backed magazine Hazards says many workers are offered less protection now than they were in the Victorian era when the problems of standing on the job were first discovered.
Problems associated with standing vary by profession, depending on whether workers are required to stand still, lift materials, operate machinery or walk some or all of the time.
Different types of surfaces can also have an affect. Constant walking on hard surfaces such as concrete flooring can cause damage to bones in the foot and heel, but this can be reduced through using mats.
The report also notes that badly designed checkouts can require retail workers to stand with their feet fixed while twisting their upper bodies, potentially exacerbating strain on joints and muscles.
Hazards editor Rory O’Neill said that in Sweden workers are rarely required to stand for more than two hours per day, and urged UK employers to take action.
“Employers in the UK should get off their backsides and provide more seating, more rest breaks and better designed workstations and jobs,” he said.
