Oka Sanerivi, a physiotherapy lecturer at Wintec in Gisborne and a member of the Pasifika Medical Association, says the onus is now on individual workers to prevent themselves from getting office related ailments like repetitive strain injury – a debilitating and painful condition caused by repetitive use of the joints or long periods sitting in a fixed position.
“In a workplace, the employers are mandated to ensure that you have adequate breaks, that you’ve been set up from a health and safety perspective, so you can do your job well, otherwise they are liable for any work – related injuries. When we work from home, we become our own managers and we need to take the same approach so we are keeping ourselves safe.”
In 2017, ACC received a total of 231,000 work injury claims, including those suffering from repetitive strain injuries. Oka says the condition is serious and there’s a risk that these figures could increase if those working from home do not take precautions and set-up their home work stations correctly.
“The first thing to do is to ensure you have adequate lighting. That the screen is well-lit and visible. The next thing to do is focus on your posture. When you’re sitting at your computer, make sure your neck stays neutral, so it’s not pushed out and your shoulders and hips are aligned.”
He also says avoid the temptation to work from the couch and not to forget to take regular breaks.
“I’m encouraging people to be mindful of their energy levels. What can happen when you’re working from home, is that you can spend more time behind the desk, sitting in a fixed position that your body wasn’t designed to do. If you begin to feel fatigued, then it’s important to stretch your legs, make a cup of tea, or walk around the block.”
Samoan risk manager, Opera Monzari, who is a former commercial banker and now works for the Public Trust, says her company fully prepared her and her colleagues to work from home during the four week self-isolation period. But she realises she needs to be self-disciplined to maintain a safe office environment at the Auckland home she shares with her husband.
“I made sure that the workstation that I set up at home was similar to my set up in the office, so it was familiar to me. If I feel like I’m stuck and working too long in my room, I’ll take my laptop and set up in the lounge, just for a change of scenery.”
Oka says that working from home might become the new norm for most office workers and implementing these practices early could be beneficial in the long term.
“We’ve been forced into this position. This might shape our work environment in the future. So these are good practices to incorporate.”
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Date: Tuesday 14 April 2020
