A recent study of office workers showed sit/stand regimes reduced fatigue. What else can be done? Four industry leaders share their thoughts.
Alice Gundavda CMIOSH
Health, safety and wellbeing manager, Cumbria County Council
The council has a variety of preventive measures to manage feelings of depression and fatigue. These include manager supervision, individual risk assessments and access to wellbeing champions. We also have in-house occupational health facilities and mental health first aiders. The council offers flexible working and has introduced new ways of working, examining the business requirements for office work. We are also collaborating with the University of Hull to measure baseline stress across the council, with planned interventions for staff wellbeing to be launched later next year.
Andy Hooke CMIOSH
Health and safety consultant, WorkNest
Managing the risks to workers’ mental health is of paramount importance. This is something I regularly discuss with those I support. Proper training and understanding are key to breaking down stigma.
Sit/stand desks have become the norm in many settings now, and help provide comfort for display screen equipment users, giving them a choice. Standing helps to improve the ergonomics of a workstation, and
is likely to improve mental wellbeing, aid circulation and reduce fatigue.
However, it also is important to recognise the importance of changing position regularly, such as switching to sitting down every now and then.
Fraser Morrison CMIOSH
Director, M2 Safety Consultants
Regarding fatigue, allowing home-working with flexible hours is crucial. People should work to live, not the other way round. Encouraging, promoting and rewarding healthy lifestyle choices are small measures you can take to improve health and wellbeing. Offering an extra day’s holiday for birthdays, and being flexible with when holidays can be taken, are others.
To reduce depression, it’s important to have an open and honest culture where mental health is spoken about on a regular basis and isn’t a taboo subject. Building and supporting a strong team – where everyone is open, honest, transparent and helps each other out when in need – is key.
Brett S Edkins CMIOSH
Head of health and safety, London Projects
The construction industry is wrought with fatigue and depression – so much so, it is undoubtedly a national crisis. To solve this, we can implement shorter working hours via staff rotation or additional site support – it’s all about bespoke solutions that are smart and pragmatic. External support programmes can be also called upon for individual cases. How the industry uses short-term labour is complex, but the key is empathy: knowing and appreciating everyone is human. By lessening the load, we can collectively achieve a healthier working environment.
