Danger zone ... office has hidden health risks
THIS could be any office in Britain – but working here could kill you, scientists warned this week.
A desk job may seem like a safer option than toiling in construction.
But long stints at the computer or poring over paperwork
DOUBLES the risk of you getting a lethal blood clot.
You’re in danger if you work at a desk for eight hours a day, and spend three successive hours or more sitting down.
If you put in a marathon 12-hour day you only need to remain seated for 60 minutes to be in peril. And each extra hour stuck at a desk raises the chance of a clot by another 20 per cent.
DVT —
DEEP VEIN THROMBOSIS — is most commonly associated with long-haul flights.
It occurs when a clot forms in a vein, usually within the calf. If the clot is not dispersed with blood-thinning drugs, it can break loose and travel to the lungs, causing a potentially deadly pulmonary embolism.
How to survive
Take regular screen breaks and get up and walk around.
If you stay seated, regularly bend your toes, ankles and legs.
Drink plenty of water.
Wash hands thoroughly after going to the loo and before eating.
Keep your desk clear and avoid eating while you work.
Regularly wipe down your desk, keyboard and phone with an antibacterial wipe.
Invoke the 20-20 rule – look away from the screen for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.
Reduce glare – windows or other sources of direct light should not be clearly visible when you sit at the monitor.
Keep blinking – it lubricates the eyes and reduces irritation.
Keep printers and other equipment as far from your desk as possible.
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Professor Richard Beasley, who headed the latest study, says: 揟he risk of developing blood clots with prolonged seated immobility is largely unrecognised. This study has shown that it is at least as important a factor as long-distance air travel.?
Prof Beasley, based at Wellington Hospital in New Zealand, says office workers should do regular stretching exercises to maintain blood flow. And this week an Italian study found relaxation exercises can also cut headaches in the office by 40 per cent.
These latest studies follow a recent Which? Computer study which found a computer keyboard can harbour
FIVE times more bacteria, such as E.coli, than a lavatory. But a University Of Arizona study suggests keyboards are squeaky clean compared to the desks on which they sit. Microbiologists found a desk is capable of supporting 10million microbes, while the average office has more than 20,000 microbes per square inch of surface.
Keyboards have 3,300 bugs per inch and computer mice just over 1,500 — but their tests found the average toilet seat was home to just 49 microbes per square inch.
Sore
Bacterial levels peaked after lunch — as a result of falling food scraps and spills.
PHONES, particularly mobiles, are even worse. Studies show some carry more germs than are found on the soles of your shoes.
Professor Joanne Verran, a microbiologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, says: 揚hones are perfect for breeding germs. They’re kept warm in our pockets, then they’re held close to the face.?
And blood clots and bacteria aren’t the only health hazards lurking in offices.
The American Optometric Association recently warned of the emergence of
COMPUTER VISION SYNDROME.
Symptoms include sore eyes, light sensitivity and neckache or backache.
Dr Kent Daum, from the Illinois College Of Optometry in Chicago, says: 揥orking at a computer requires a great deal of eye movement and eye focusing. Constant re-focusing stresses the eye muscle, leading to vision problems.?
LASER PRINTERS can cause
LUNG DAMAGE similar to that affecting smokers, boffins at the Australia’s Queensland University Of Technology have found. One in three printers releases unhealthy levels of toner into the atmosphere. Tiny particles can penetrate the lungs and trigger respiratory problems.
ELECTRONIC SMOG may also be a threat. Scientists at London’s Imperial College believe electrical fields created by office equipment may trigger headaches and other health problems.
Researcher Keith Jamieson explains: 揈lectric fields have a powerful effect on the air. That’s why the backs of computers get covered in dust. The same thing happens to people’s skin and lungs. It increases the toxic load that the body has to deal with.?
SICK BUILDING SYNDROME has been recognised by the World Health Organisation and symptoms include eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches and dizziness.
The Health And Safety Executive say causes probably include poor ventilation, high temperatures and poor lighting.
