The proliferation of telecommuting arrangements forced by the COVID-19 pandemic has been linked to health problems ranging from anxiety to back injuries and eye strain, but employers can prevent many of these conditions by identifying and addressing any "mismatch" between remote-work preference and frequency, a study has shown.
A study of nearly 3,000 workers has found that the slack provision of employment standards for break lengths and other entitlements increases the risk of injuries and illnesses, and the problem is significantly exacerbated by inadequate safety controls.
A simple and often overlooked measure can have a significant positive impact on workers' alertness, energy levels and safety, a health and wellness expert and former AFL conditioning coach says.
Many people infected with COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms after four weeks, and sometimes months, complicating their return to work. Managers play a vital role in ensuring they are safely reintegrated into the workplace, according to Europe's peak work safety body.
With insufficient sleep emerging as a major risk factor for cardiometabolic disease, and many senior managers working excessive hours, employers have been urged to ensure workplace health programs address work demands and psychological factors that prevent workers from sleeping enough.
Workers who have experienced cancer can suffer long-term impacts that affect their ability to work safely. They require work environments that encourage them to be open about their challenges and ask for support, researchers say.
Promoting healthy diets among workers can have a positive impact on safety performance, according to researchers, who found truck drivers who eat more vegetables and coarse grains are less likely to exhibit dangerous driving.
New ways of working are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and providing opportunities to improve workers' work-life balance and fatigue levels, but they must be provided with the skills to match the evolved workplace, an ex-US military sleep researcher says.
Six gig economy companies have been issued safety notices after a Sydney blitz revealed widespread non-compliance with WHS laws, with breaches including the absence of hi-vis gear and explicit health and safety instructions.
