Industry can solve a major health problem by not taking a stand

There is a lot to admire about the UK’s manufacturing industry. With an annual output of £183 billion, the UK ranks as the world’s ninth largest manufacturing nation, says Make UK. Latest Office for National Statistics data says the sector employs 2.6 million - a figure that has been fairly stable for more than a decade now.

But are many of those people spending too much time on their feet and should the law protect workers who are standing for large periods of time per day. What’s clear is that it’s causing long-term health problems.

A 2021 HSE report maintained musculoskeletal disorders accounted for 43% of work-related ill health in the manufacturing industry with approximately 88,000 workers suffer from ill health over a three-year period. Data in 2020 also showed the average number of days lost per self-reported work-related injury had doubled, rising to an all-time high of 20 in 2019/20.

Research has suggested that standing for even two hours a day can have actual benefits yet, other studies state that without dynamic movement even half an hour standing can lead to fatigue, discomfort, and pain in other areas of the body, particularly the legs and lower back.

This can include:

• Plantar fasciitis
• sore feet
• swelling of the legs
• shin splints
• varicose veins
• general muscular fatigue
• low back pain
• stiffness in the neck and shoulders

These pose a big problem for manufacturing employees working assembly lines, for long periods of time without frequent enough sitting breaks.

Footwear is another aspect when we’re spending time on foundations like concrete, which are too hard for the human foot over a long period of time, using footwear that is not suitable and doesn’t offer any support to the foot. 

Physiotherapist at FootActive, Jemima Munro, outlines how workers can help alleviate the effects of this, while acknowledging long-term solutions will be required:

Stretching

Perhaps not something people would feel comfortable doing in front of their colleagues throughout the day, but a daily routine for the lower half of your body helps keep muscles flexible and will prevent them from tightening. 

Good posture

Slouching adds unnecessary stress and strain to key muscles, joints, and ligaments. So... 

• keep your chin parallel to the floor
• align shoulders and hips
• ensure your back is straight and has no arches
• align hips with ankles
• equally distribute body weight across both feet

Vary your stance

Adapting the stance from time to time prevents bodies being stuck in a rigid posture t. Shifting your weight or using a floor mat to soften the ground engages other muscle groups.

Data also shows that those people who invest in insoles sooner rather than later as a result of a foot problem have much fewer issues going forward, particularly in children. 

Unfortunately, there are still far too many people that will take pain relief, like Ibuprofen, and don’t deal with a foot issue until it becomes unbearable.

Manufacturing and warehouse sectors are not alone in needing to deal with this issue. Workers in hospitality, construction, healthcare and farming are subject to long excessive hours on their feet, many without the correct footwear protection.

Left untreated, long periods of standing have a negative impact on our bodies, affecting our legs and lower backs, and eventually leading to thousands of workers being forced to sick leave and seek help for issues that are avoidable.

Pic: Shutterstock

Will Munro is director at NHS-approved orthotic insoles provider FootActive