• Moving around the office is important to workers’ health and well-being
• New research supports advice from Cardinus to avoid prolonged periods sitting at desks without a break

SITTING at a desk for prolonged periods is bad for the physical health and mental well-being of employees, according to new research by the Work and Health Research Centre at Loughborough University.

In a typical working week, people spend on average five hours and 41 minutes per day sitting at their desks. Only sleeping, at an average of seven hours, takes up more time per day. It’s important that regular exercise is taken to break up the long spells sat at a desk, say experts.

The research found that nearly 70 per cent of employees surveyed did not meet recommended guidelines for physical activity. Dr Myanna Duncan, who presented the research at a recent occupational health conference, said, “Go and talk to your colleagues face to face, it’s a lot more sociable and better for you than emailing them.”

Jon Abbott, managing director – ergonomics and safety at Cardinus Risk Management, said, “This research from Loughborough University ties in exactly with the experiences of our customers. Regular short breaks and taking the opportunity to move around the office are vital to health and well-being.

“Good ergonomic risk management places huge importance on breaks and movement, which is why we see significant improvements among customers who introduce e-learning such as Workstation Safety Plus to their organisations.”

Cardinus has been developing effective ergonomics programmes for more than 12 years. Its customers include many of the world’s leading organisations, central government departments and unions.

The Cardinus approach to effective ergonomic management is to apply simple programmes that provide a modular, adaptable solution. Workstation Safety Plus, the innovative online DSE assessment and e-learning solution, provides award-winning solutions that are fully endorsed by the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management.

Cardinus provides on-site and telephonic DSE assessments and, when needed, will supply DSE triage and case management solutions.

For more information about ergonomic risk management services and other Cardinus products telephone 020 7469 0200.

DECLARATION: NorthLight Media Ltd, publisher of Peterboroughbusiness.co.uk, provides marketing and PR services to Cardinus Risk Management.