Two out of three office workers have physical pain at work
Office workers feel forgotten in the retirement age debate.
It is by no means only people like scaffolders and slaughterhouse workers with hard physical work who suffer from pain at work. A large proportion of office workers also suffer from physical pain at work.
A new survey conducted by HK Stat shows that two out of three of the union's members feel that their sedentary work with repetitive movements in front of a computer is a strain that causes physical discomfort in the neck, shoulders and back. This is according to A4 Arbejdsmiljø.
An anonymous HK Stat member told the survey the following:
"Many of my office colleagues suffer from back problems. But I feel that we are still forgotten in the 'retirement age' talk, because we don't have 'hard, physical work'."
Higher work pace causes pain
Peter Raben, Vice President of HK Stat, explains that there are several parameters that come into play when it comes to work-related attrition.
It is the combination of something physical and mental, and then a work pace that is being turned up more and more in the state workplaces, which means that more people feel pain in connection with the work, says Peter Raben to A4 Arbejdsmiljø.
The Vice-President himself remembers that many years ago it was said that staff were not allowed to spend more than half the day in front of the computer in order to protect the employee. Today, the perception is completely different, as the pace of work has increased dramatically.
Several types of workers experience occupational injuries
HK Stats members are mainly office workers. The work will typically be administrative tasks in front of the computer. Laboratory technicians are also part of HK Stat, and their work can also be monotonous at the pipette bowl.
There have been many discussions about mouse injuries over the years, but it is virtually impossible to have these injuries recognized as occupational injuries.
- It is not the mouse alone that is the problem, it is more the fact that you work for so long with the same unilateral movements that contributes to wear and tear, says Peter Raben to A4 Arbejdsmiljø.
More office workers receive treatment
Tina Lambretch, chair of the Danish Association of Physiotherapists, sees a growing problem with office workers suffering from physical pain, and physiotherapists are running at full speed at the moment.
- Seen in isolation, you could say that it is a high figure that two thirds of HK Stats members feel worn out or have pain in the musculoskeletal system, but on the other hand, it is not a figure that surprises me when you compare it to the rest of the population, says Tina Lambretch to A4 Arbejdsmiljø.
