Office diseases
Diseases associated with work in smelting works and mines are slowly disappearing from the National Register of Occupational Diseases. They are being replaced with new diseases - the ones that affect office workers. These are ailments such as, among others: spinal diseases, varicose veins, allergies, and psychological disorders caused by the stress and monotony of office work.
Scientists argue that these diseases will become a real nightmare for office workers in future and they will all probably be added to the ministerial list of occupational diseases.
There are already a large number of office workers who complain of tiredness, loss of energy, headaches, breathing difficulties, dryness of mucous membranes of the eyes and nose, throat irritation, skin desquamation, vision disorders and stress.
It is undoubtedly connected with malfunctioning, contaminated ventilation systems and the lack of natural light and natural ventilation. In combination with psychological strains, all these factors contribute to a significant deterioration of physical health.
What is an occupational disease?
Although we often prefer not to talk about our health, we all fall ill from time to time. The type, duration, and severity of each illness depend on our individual features. Furthermore, we are all exposed to the risk of occupational diseases that prevail in our work environment.
According to Wikipedia, a free Internet encyclopaedia, occupational diseases are caused by prolonged work in a constrained posture, strenuous activities performed in a repetitious manner or frequent exposure to harmful agents (such as noise, inadequate lighting, dust particles in the air, radiation, chemical compounds, increased psychological strain, etc.).
Occupational diseases may develop after long-term exposure to harmful factors. Their symptoms often persist over an extended period of time and may require an equally long treatment. They are usually chronic or recurrent and often lead to a permanent loss of health.
Occupational diseases include both diseases that affect the entire population to a varying degree and the so-called characteristic diseases - occurring only (or mostly) in specific professional groups.
In 2005, out of 3249 cases of diagnosed occupational diseases:
21 percent were chronic disease of the voice organ,
20.7 percent - pneumoconioses,
18.9 percent - infectious or parasitic diseases,
10.4 percent - hearing impairments,
5 percent - skin diseases,
24 percent - other occupational diseases.
Ailments affecting office employees are usually classified as ‘other occupational diseases’.
Europe is looking for solutions
The significance of problems associated with occupational diseases and accidents at work has been highlighted by, among others, Vladimír Špidla, Member of the European Commission responsible for employment, social affairs, and equal opportunities. In his opinion, occupational diseases and accidents at work are a serious problem for European workers and employers alike.
This is why only a month ago, on 21 February 2007; the European Commission announced a new, 5-year strategy for the years 2007-2012, concerning health and safety at work. It aims to reduce the number of occupational diseases and accidents at work in the countries of the European Union by one fourth.
Each year, there are 4 million accidents at work in the EU Member States, contributing to the loss of millions of working days. The total cost of the resulting sickness absence is estimated at about 1 billion Euros a year. Employees have to incur the costs of sickness benefits and employ temporary workers. As a result, work effectiveness is decreasing.
The findings of the European Commission suggest that accidents occur most often in small and medium enterprises (82 per cent), which also have the highest percentage of fatal accidents (90 per cent). In addition, the above data indicate that while the number of “old” occupational diseases is constantly rising, “new” illnesses, such as diseases of the musculoskeletal system (spinal pains, injuries of the joints and chronic physical overstrain) and stress-induced psychological disorders are also becoming increasingly common.
The new strategy aims to improve health and safety at work through a continuous reduction of occupational accidents and diseases. To attain these objectives, a number of measures will be implemented on both the European and the national level of each EU country.
Polish practice
In the last eight years, the number of Poles diagnosed with occupational diseases has fallen four times - from 12 thousand to 3.2 thousand.
However, it certainly does not mean that occupational diseases suddenly became less common among Polish employees. This change in statistical data results from the reform of the system of medical evaluation and certification for disability pension purposes, introduced in 1998. A diagnosis of an occupational disease is no longer a sufficient basis for granting a disability pension. Before such a pension can be awarded now, medical experts must also assess the effects of the disease and its impact on an individual’s capacity to work in future.
If a worker falls ill with an occupational disease and is no longer able to perform his present job, the employer is obliged, in compliance with the labour code, to assign him to a different job to avoid aggravation of the diagnosed disease (when such transfer is associated with lower pay, a worker is entitled to a compensation allowance for a period not exceeding 6 months).
In reality, however, employers assign such workers to the lowest-prestige and lowest paying jobs or even dismisses them, because they are no longer capable of performing their duties. Employees are afraid of losing their jobs and prefer not to mention the symptoms of occupational diseases during periodic check-ups, pretending that they are healthy.
Experts believe that this problem could be solved by insuring employees against occupational diseases, but this type of insurance is not yet available on the Polish insurance market.
Hope in sport
It is estimated that the incidence of occupational diseases among office workers will rise in future. They will soon become the most prevalent work-related ailments.
Although most people think that office work is not particularly strenuous, the list of troublesome symptoms affecting office workers is rather long.
While stress-induced diseases or symptoms associated with sick building syndrome can be controlled to some extent, it is more difficult to prevent diseases caused by prolonged sitting posture or working at the computer for many hours.
It can be expected, therefore, that more and more employees in Poland - just like their counterparts in the United States and Western Europe - will complain of spinal pain and spine degeneration, wrist pains, varicose veins and eyesight deterioration.
Today, an increasing number of people lead a sedentary life and spend a lot of time working with computers and there is nothing that can be done about it. In the era of quickly developing Internet, many individuals return home after a long day at the office and spend a few hours in front of their computer - this time mostly for entertainment.
In addition, what is worse, the problem of bad posture, weaker muscles, spinal diseases, and wrist pains are becoming increasingly common among children and young people. Having spent half a day at a school desk, they come home to play with their computer for a few hours.
In this situation, there is only one rescue - practising sport regularly.
