CFAS Spring 2020 Journal

MOVING
THE WORKFORCE
TOWARDS SIT-STAND SOLUTIONS
As wellness in the workplace gains momentum, it seems
that health benefits of standing up whilst working is being
recognized by both employers and employees.
People are now more likely to accept that sitting for
extended periods without moving, may increase the
risk of the onset of cardio vascular diseases, obesity,
diabetes and general lack of fitness.
Rapid technology advances, changing the way we
work, is also pushing people into ever more sedentary
life styles. Long hours, often in seated postures can not
only affect our health and general well-being, but also
our productivity and efficiency in the workplace.
This does not mean, however, that we should switch
from prolonged sitting to prolonged standing. Neither
is good - the human body is not designed for static
postures. Movement is the key for maintaining a healthy
body, hence alternating between sitting and standing is
the answer. There is no exact defined time periods of
sitting versus standing. It depends on the individual and
what they are doing; however as a general rule 10 to 15
minutes of standing for every hour or so of being seated
seems to be beneficial.
Levent Çaglar, Chief Ergonomist at FIRA, has been
warning about the dangers of prolonged sitting at
workplaces, as well as highlighting how rapid changes
in technology have pushed people to more sedentary
lifestyles in schools, offices and at home.
Over the past few years he has been advocating the
use of standing work surfaces in offices and schools
and has been at the forefront of getting people to
alternate between sitting and standing while they work.
The furniture industry has been responding by
providing new and innovative sit/stand solutions.
These desks are very popular in Scandinavia, where
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