Articles

Actevate marked World Day for Safety and Health at Work and Workers’ Memorial Day on 28 April, 2015, by getting out and spreading the word - a day to focus on taking actions which can prevent future work-related deaths, injuries and illnesses, and a day to remember those that have died from a work-related injury or illness.

Safe Work Australia reminded us that despite a reduction in the number of Australians injured or killed at work during the past 10 years, in 2014, 185 workers lost their lives at work. That means there are still employees who went to work that day didn’t get to come home to their families or friends.

Whether we work in an office, in a warehouse or a myriad different environments, we all deserve to come home when we go to work – it’s a basic expectation that we are safe at work.

The International Labour Organisation developed a dedicated website for the day, check out the interactive website to work through your safety ‘journey’.

The big issues emerging for many sedentary workers are the significant negative effects on our health from sitting such as obesity, cardiovascular disease – consider it to be the new 'smoking'. You can read more here. The ABC recently did a piece on the research from the heart foundation that does not paint a pretty picture. Find out more here.

Another issue emerging in the 21st-century workplace is the ever-encroaching impact on our leisure time as we read and respond to emails on the weekend, engage in social media after hours – expectations are now that we are ‘on’ 24/7.

Here are some tips to try to correct your sitting posture:

1. Sit on the front of the sitting bones, gently tilting your pelvis forwards. This will help to put your spine in its natural low back curve (lumbar lordosis).
2. Imagine there is a string connected from the top of your head to the ceiling, 'lengthening your neck'.
3. Gently squeeze your shoulder blades together to correct any roundedness of the shoulders.
4. Keep a relaxed breathing pattern. As you breathe in - make air gently fill all the way to the lower lungs - don't just fill the upper chest.
5. Ensure that your chin isn’t poking out in a forward head posture. In a small ‘yes’ nod movement, gently tuck your chin in to your chest.
6. Get moving! Any excuse to move - use a glass to drink water rather than a bottle, stand to talk to your work mates, stand to eat your lunch rather than sit at your desk.

Let us help you battle these issues check out our offers in our acknowledgment of World Day for Safety and Health at Work or email us with your issues or call us on 1300 663 155.