BT exhorts business to get fit for mobile working

Dr Paul Litchfield, BT’s chief medical officer, says t he guide is designed to help mobile workers avoid the back, neck and arm problems that can arise as a result of working in unfamiliar environments with poor posture. Official figures show that these are the most common occupational illnesses in the UK. More than a fifth (20.6%) of BT employees’ sickness absence is caused by such illnesses. However, newly published research, carried out by BT Business, shows that less than half (46%) of mobile workers are receiving guidance about staying safe when working on the move. Further, 25% of workers are unaware that all businesses are legally responsible for their health and safety, wherever they are working, whether in an office or not. Says Dr Litchfield: “Mobile working can liberate people by giving them more flexibility over their time and more control over their jobs. Both are important in helping to make modern life less stressful. “[But], as with any technology, people can experience problems with mobile devices if they don’t take note of simple, practical steps, such as those developed by BT Business, before they begin to use their equipment.” BT Business worked with Margaret Hanson, one of the UK’s leading ergonomists, to publish the reference guide – identifying common issues, their causes and the solutions. The advice will be communicated internally to more than 100,000 employees at BT.