New survey reveals 91% of adult female desk workers and 89% of female computer users experience workspace injuries with prevention the best protection.
WORKSPACE WEEK – 2–8 OCTOBER 2023 – Work Well Anywhere
For national WorkSpace Week and Safe Work Month, a new independent survey commissioned by the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) revealed 87% of Australian women aged over 18 have or will suffer a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) (low back, neck and mid back pain, and tension/cervicogenic headaches) with most easily prevented if workers and employers implement some simple strategies in the workspace.
WorkSpace Week, an initiative of the Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) is dedicated to minimising workspace WMSDs which are Australia’s leading work health and safety concern costing the economy over $55 billion annually through direct health costs, lost productivity and reduced quality of life of sufferers.
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a range of inflammatory and degenerative conditions affecting the muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, peripheral nerves and blood vessels that may be caused by a single workspace event, but commonly result from repeated harmful workspace activities over an extended period of time.
The survey of over 1000 Australians conducted by Pureprofile revealed that 60% of women reported suffering low back pain, 52% reported experiencing mid back pain, 49% reported shoulder pain and 56% reported tension or cervical (neck related) headaches as a result of a WMSD, with 22% of women reporting they experience work-related back pain 3+ times per week with half of those experiencing pain daily.
The survey identified of the 506 female respondents, 89% of computer users, 90% of workers who sit for prolonged periods, 89% workers who stand for prolonged periods, 92% of workers who undertake repetitive movements, 95% of women who pull or push for work and 94% who lift for work, have experienced a WMSD.
Dr Ali Young, a chiropractor, author, speaker and former Board Member and Vice President (WA), and a mother of two has extensive experience treating women and advocating for the health of working mothers.
Passionate about enabling women to allow their health to shine, Dr Young shared her concerns about the high number of working women who unnecessarily suffer from WMSDs, saying, our aim is to help prevent the incidences of WMSDs among working women by educating them about workspace risks and providing them with resources and strategies to help prevent WMSDs from jobs known to pose a high risks to spinal health.
“The women most at risk of work-related spinal health injuries work in professions or industries where repetitive actions or body stressing brought about by prolonged standing, sitting, lifting or pushing/pulling is required,” Dr Young said.
“According to the most recent data (2021-22) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), those most vulnerable to WMSDs are valued professions predominantly undertaken by women who are community and personal service workers such as healthcare, aged care, childcare, NDIS and disability service workers.
“However, while body stressing is the most commonly reported cause of physical injury for serious workers compensation claims (generally) as a result of poorly executed lifting, pushing, pulling or bending; the independent survey revealed working from a desk and computer usage (in an office or at home) can also lead to chronic neck and back pain and tension/cervicogenic headaches if not prevented or treated when injuries first occur,” she said.
“WMSDs relating to computer use are predominantly due to non-ergonomic workspaces, poor posture and the lack of effective exercise programs that can improve worker spinal health.
“Desk work and using computers at home or in the office were reported as being among the leading triggers for the most common WMSDs with 91% of women (compared to 76% of men) who worked at a desk reporting experiencing a WMSD including low back, neck, mid back and tension/cervicogenic headaches while workplace stress can also trigger a range of work-related WMSDs,” said Dr Young.
“The survey data also revealed that 87% of surveyed women experienced workplace stress with 27% of female WMSD sufferers experiencing regular work-related stress compared to 19% of men.
“91% of ACA Chiropractors treat patients with WMSDs as a result of stress; with women aged 41-50 and 31-40 the most treated patients for WMSDs.
“The survey identified stress as a trigger for 32% female tension or cervicogenic (neck related) headache sufferers, 24% of low back pain sufferers, 22% of female migraine sufferers, 19% of women with mid back pain and 17% of female neck pain sufferers, with each WMSD impacting female workers’ concentration, productivity, social engagement and their overall wellbeing and quality of life,” said Dr Young.
“Considering the national survey results and in light of the worldwide study led by the University of Sydney demonstrating low back pain is the most commonly recorded workspace injury; WorkSpace Week is aimed at prevention and early intervention of WMSDs caused by body stressing, repetitive work, poorly set up non-ergonomic workstations and mental stress,” she said.
“We know that prevention is the best protection so during National WorkSpace Week 2023 the ACA is focussed on preventing work-related spinal health disorders caused by physical and mental stress, repetitive work and poorly set up non-ergonomic workspaces to help minimise workspace injuries and the long-term impact on employers, the economy and the overall health and wellbeing of injured workers.
To help prevent work-related spinal health disorders, the community can access free resources at workspaceweek.org.au including the Ergonomic Checklist for computer users, My Healthy WorkSpace Stretching Poster and Factsheets for headache sufferers and workers who sit, lift, bend and stand for prolonged periods for display in workspaces.
