The non-profit health insurer BHSF Limited submitted the results from its survey this month on 897 UK employees who work at least two days a week from home. The survey found that one in five employees received a workstation assessment in person and that businesses are failing to extend the care that employees receive in the office to that at home. It noted that women felt particularly let down and those over 50 were most vulnerable. BHSF added that a failure to protect employees benefiting from flexible working practices could result in a rise in musculoskeletal issues in the future.
Three-fifths of respondents said they received no help or guidance from their employer on how to set up their workstations correctly. Out of the 36% who had received support, 60% of those had an ergonomic assessment; 22% in person and 38% online. Since working from home 37% admitted they had noticed new back pain.
Only 30% of women said they had received help to set up their workstations correctly, compared to 45% of men. The survey also found that 30% of women had workspace set aside such as a desk or office, compared to 43% of men. In addition only 26% of those aged over 50 could remember receiving assistance from their employer to set up their workstations correctly.
A contributing factor to the back pain reported was the lack of a proper workstation. 27% said they worked at tables rather than desks, 11% worked from their sofas, and 3% admitted working from their beds.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provide employer guidance on employees working safely with display screen equipment (DSE) such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations SI 1992/2792 apply to workers who use DSE daily, this includes home workers. Employers must:
Incorrect use of DSE, poorly designed workstations or work environment can lead to pain in necks, shoulders, backs, arms, wrists and hands as well as fatigue and eye strain. The causes may not always be so obvious.
Physiotherapy lead for BHSF Stuart Nottingham said: "There is a lot more that employers could be doing to prevent back pain in their employees, from ensuring their homes workstation is set up correctly to providing them with guidance on active working strategies such as getting up from sitting on a regular basis, or advice on simple exercises they can do to prevent back pain and other musculoskeletal problems."
