Deadly Blood Clot Risk For Office And Call Centre Workers
Once again the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) amongst workers in office based and call centre based working environments has hit the headlines. Once thought of as only a risk to those taking long haul flights, the risk of DVTs affecting those doing sedentary work is increasing with constant performance targeting and job design compromising workers ability to take breaks or make changes of activity at work. Indeed concerns have been raised around this risk as far back as 2003 according to media reports.
This weeks TUC Risks highlights a recent court case:
A government worker who developed a life-threatening blood clot after sitting at her desk for hours without a break has received more than £10,000 in compensation.
PCS member Angela Lamberton, 53, nearly died after the work schedule at her office was restructured to reduce the time employees spent away from their desks. Managers at HM Revenue and Customs in Leicester set new routines which meant staff no longer had to leave their desks to do printing or photocopying tasks.
Angela had suffered a previous blood clot and although it was successfully treated and she no longer had to take medication she was told by doctors to take breaks from her desk every 15 minutes.
The old work routine meant she was naturally taking those breaks to collect work from the printer. When the new system was put in place she complained to her line manager but she was told she must abide by the new rules. Within weeks she started to suffer pains in her legs.
Her GP diagnosed a blood clot and she had to receive emergency treatment to disperse it. She must now take blood thinning medication on a daily basis and wear specialist stockings. She also has to attend the hospital every four weeks and still suffers from tired and painful legs.
HM Customs and Revenue admitted liability and settled the claim out of court. PCS national officer Pete Lockhart said: "It is disgraceful that Angela's complaints were ignored despite her medical history. It is a classic case of management putting targets above their staff's health. It should never have taken the threat of legal action for Angela to be allowed to take a break from her desk."
Whilst the above report is very recent, some two years ago, concerns were raised in the media through reported increases in the number of cases being found amongst office and call centre workers. Professor Richard Beasley, lead researcher on a study by New Zealand's Medical Research Institute, was reported as saying that his research showed that people seated for long periods of time were at risk of DVT, with IT and call centre workers being most affected.
His study of 62 patients admitted to hospital with blood clots, found that 34 per cent were seated at work for long periods beforehand. In comparison to only 1.5 per cent who had traveled recently on long-haul flights.
Unionsafety highlighted the risk of DVTs for both call centre workers and office workers as far back as 2003 and more recently again in 2006, with this news item appearing on its news pages in May of that year.
CWU Conference 2004 debated this issue and carried prop 53 instructing the CWU Health and Safety department to research the issue of DVT risk amongst DSE users in call centres.
In implementing the proposition the CWU position is explained on their website health and safety item which gives advice regarding DVT in general. With regard to the direct risk to those using DSEs, the CWU advice says:
"T&FSE Health Safety and Environment Sub Committee conclude therefore, that after researching the issue raised by Proposition 53, that there is currently no conclusive evidence linking normal display screen users being at risk to DVT."
However, the item goes further: "The HSE and CWU advise employers and members that adequate rest breaks away from the workstation must be taken to control the potential physical and psychological health risks. Walking around and stretching during breaks exercises muscles and increases blood circulation, which relieves tension and reduces the risk of visual fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders and is encouraged. The sub committee will however continue to monitor the situation."
Whilst good DSE work practice and policy will certainly mitigate any risk of DVT amongst sedentary computer users in offices and call centres, the fact is that as a result of the current economic conditions in the UK causing job losses and associated work pressures and the current practice amongst many office workers of working through their lunch breaks and leaving simple tasks such as collecting printed copy from printers until a stacked amount appears, the risk of DVT, whilst currently small, is certainly increasing.
DVT Risk To DSE Users
Source: TUC Risks / Unionsafety / BBC News Online
