Staff take part in national Work Out at Work day
Members of staff at Shropshire Council today took part in the national Work Out at Work Day.
The annual awareness day led by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) takes place around the country whereby physiotherapy staff go into work places across the UK to promote the importance of being physically active during the working day and keeping ‘fit for work’.
The event was organised by Shropshire Public Health’s Help2Change who’d teamed up with the Physiotherapy team at RJAH Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust to provide staff with health advice and information and to encourage them to think about their workplace health and pick up some helpful tips to help improve it.
Staff experiencing any aches, pains and niggles, such as back pain or sore shoulders were offered ‘rapid access’ consultations with highly qualified Physiotherapists.
Help2Change and the RJAH Physio team also provided staff with information on how to address poor work habits, such as remaining seated for prolonged periods, and not taking regular breaks.
Miranda Ashwell, Programme lead for Physical Activity at Shropshire public health’s Help2Change said;
“It’s in every organisations’ best interest to keep their staff happy, motivated and productive.
“Physical inactivity can give rise to musculoskeletal disorders, the most common cause of sickness absence in England costing 8.3 million working days lost in 2013/14. 46% of workers say their physical pains are due to working in the same position for a long period of time.
“The aim of the day was to improve public health, reduce sickness absence and promote the important role which physiotherapy plays in keeping people ‘fit for work’. Our preventive approach helps address problems before becoming chronic or acute, by supporting staff to be more active, tackling risk factors in their work and general lifestyle that may be causing or contributing to problems with their health.
“Many people spend a large proportion of their time at work, and it’s very common to feel too busy doing your job to take the time to look after your health.
“Help2Change saw Work Out at Work Day as a great opportunity for members of staff to take timeout to look after themselves and get some sound advice to improve their health and wellbeing at work.”
Councillor Karen Calder, Cabinet Member for Health and Chair of Shropshire’s Health and Wellbeing Board added;
“Like with many organisations and business we know how important it is to invest and promote a healthier workforce.
“I’m really pleased that we are supporting the Work Out at Work Day as it fits in very well with Shropshire’s Health and wellbeing Board Year of Physical Activity and our commitment to enhance the health and wellbeing of our staff.”
RJAH Senior Physiotherapists Philip Hulse added;
“Our ‘rapid access’ Physiotherapy sessions offer great preventive approach to help address problems before they become chronic or acute. These sessions also support staff to be more active, tackling risk factors in their work and general lifestyle that may be causing or contributing to problems with their health.”
Anyone in Shropshire who would like information and advice on living a healthy lifestyle can visit www.healthyshropshire.co.uk or call the Healthy Shropshire helpline on 0345 678 9025. This number has been set up to provide a single point for people to go to for support with improving their health. Advisers can help people looking to find out more about how they can be healthier, and prevent themselves or others from getting ill.
Further information
The CSP launched W@WD in 2011 in order to increase levels of physical activity amongst employees during the working day, and to inspire staff to move more and address poor work habits, such as not taking regular breaks. The aim of the day is to improve public health, reduce sickness absence and promote the important role which physiotherapy plays in keeping people ‘fit for work’.
