Should the increased use of mobile devices for work purposes come with a health warning?
Mobile Working
Using mobile devices for work purposes (known as Mobile Working) is becoming more and more common, but how many of us are aware of the increased strain on our joints and muscles (musculoskeletal) and eyes as a result?
Some of you may have seen the link we posted earlier this month with a free guide about Mobile Working: file:///C:/Users/EV/Downloads/Mobile%20Working%20Guide.pdf This detailed guide, compiled by the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF), provides practical information for both employers and employees on the changes in how we work, recognising the risk factors, and how to prevent or reduce them.
The change in how we work
The guide recognises:
“How and where we work is rapidly changing. For many it has already changed. Networked mobile devices, cloud-based data management, fast-data phone networks etc. mean we can work now almost anywhere we need or want to.”
This shift in how and where we work has many positives, and can enhance our work-life balance. However, with ‘work’ no longer being confined to a static desk area, new challenges arise so that we find ourselves working in awkward positions that are far from ideal for our posture.
Posture and using mobile devices
The basic design of a laptop is not ergonomic from a musculoskeletal point of view – simply put it is not possible to work on a laptop without causing some strain on our body.
“Having the keyboard at a useable height means the screen will be too low, causing poor neck posture … On the other hand if the screen is raised to a suitable height, the attached keyboard essentially becomes unusable.”
(Refer to the CIEHF report for further details) A good working posture whilst using a laptop within the workplace can be achieved by using a combination of laptop stand, separate monitors and keyboard; however this isn’t really practical for mobile working.
Also, being hunched over when using a phone puts a strain on our neck and shoulders known as “texting neck”. By tilting our head forwards the strain on our neck and shoulders increases which can lead to fatigue and headaches and long-lasting postural problems can occur as a result. Added to this is the repetitive strain on thumbs, ‘thumb texting’ using thumbs rather than forefinger to key in text.
The report also questions: “Why do we not get the same problem with books or magazines?” apparently this is because we alter our neck posture when reading and use more ‘micro-movements’ compared with using a tablet, thus reducing neck strain.
Eye Care
Another factor to consider is eye health. Using the relatively small screen of a smartphone, or tablet, can put strain on eye muscles and can lead to eyes feeling tired and irritated. If you’ve had a Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessment at your workplace, no doubt you’ll be familiar with the HSEs 20-20-20 rule to reduce eye strain:
“for every 20 minutes focusing on the screen, you should look away for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away”
Reducing the risks
With the aim of tackling the associated risks of mobile working, The CIEHF’s guide includes information from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) which advises that you should take a break (or change your work activity) after every 15 minutes of constant working on a mobile device. This is in contrast to the HSE guidance of a 5-10 minute break every hour when working on an ergonomically set-up workstation, and indicates how detrimental sustained work on a mobile device can be to our wellbeing.
I recommend taking the time to download, read and digest the valuable advice given in the CIEHF guide, especially if you believe in the motto “prevention is better than cure”, and make a start to being more conscious about how you use mobile devices.
Note: The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors (CIEHF) is the UK’s professional body for the scientific discipline of ergonomics and human factors.
file:///C:/Users/EV/Downloads/Mobile%20Working%20Guide.pdf
