News Date: Thursday 23rd June 2005
Tim Loughton MP learns more about workplace health
Workplace health was top of the agenda when local MP Tim Loughton met with chartered physiotherapists from West Sussex at Westminster during national Physiotherapy Week (June 20-25).
Tim Loughton MP attended a drop-in clinic organised by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) to learn more about physical problems affecting the workforce and the vital role physiotherapists can play in the fight against work related ill-health.
He was also given practical advice to help him prevent developing back or neck problems through his work, for example how to correctly sit at and set up a workstation and tips on using a laptop computer when travelling to and from the Houses of Parliament.
Physiotherapist Bronwyn Timbs said:
'Many physiotherapists have specialist ergonomic and risk assessment knowledge that could be of great benefit to employers and their staff. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to share this information with Tim Loughton and hope he will feel inspired to encourage employers and employees in their constituencies to take steps to eliminate workplace health hazards.'
Tim Loughton commented:
'It is frighteningly easy to progressively damage your neck or spine from years of sitting badly in front of a computer. The importance of an ergonomically tested workplace cannot be underestimated.'
Figures from the Health and Safety Executive show that over 119 million working days are lost across Britain every year as a result of work related back pain. The CSP believes that preserving the health of the workforce is crucial for industry and ran the clinic as part of national Physiotherapy Week, which this year focused on the message that 'prevention is better than cure'
Ends
Notes to editors
1. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the trade union, professional and educational body for the country?s 45,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistants. For previous press releases, visit: www.csp.org.uk/mediagovernment/media/mediareleases.cfm
2. Two million workers in Britain suffer from work related illness and more than half of these are back, neck and limb problems. The cost of back pain alone each year is:
- 119 million days of certified incapacity
- 12 million GP consultations
- 800,000 in-patient days of hospital care,
- almost 0.5 billion pounds annually
