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Did you know the average UK adult spends around 4.5 hours a day looking at screens connected to the internet? [Global overview report].
That’s a significant portion of our waking lives, and it’s enabling digital overload, the silent saboteur that’s steadily eroding our health and safety, often without us even realising the profound impact.
Have you ever felt that familiar ache in your neck after a long day at the computer, or the burning sensation in your eyes as you doom scroll through late into the night.
These aren’t just minor inconveniences, they are subtle signals from your body that your digital habits might be pushing you towards health and safety risks. Beyond the widely discussed issue of digital eye strain, the constant immersion in our devices is creating a cascade of physical and mental challenges that demand our immediate attention.
Consider, for instance, “tech neck,” a modern issue stemming from the prolonged hunch over smartphones. This posture can lead to pain, nerve compression, and even spinal damage. It’s not just discomfort, it’s about the very structure of your body being compromised, potentially leading to long-term disability .
Similarly, repetitive strain injuries to wrists and hands are becoming increasingly common as we spend hours typing and swiping, making simple daily tasks painful and difficult. These physical strains aren’t just work-related; they follow us home, impacting our personal lives and leisure activities.
More popular than this, is the impact on our sleep.
The blue light emitted from our screens, especially in the evening, suppresses melatonin production, throwing our body’s natural sleep-wake cycle into disarray. This isn’t just about feeling tired it can impair brain function, reduces reaction times, and increase the risk of accidents. Good sleep is fundamental to both physical restoration and mental alertness, making undisturbed rest a crucial aspect of our daily safety.
The digital world also presents a set of mental health hazards. The influx of information, notifications, and the pressure to be “online” creates a breeding ground for anxiety, stress, and burnout.
This information overload can make it incredibly difficult to focus, reducing productivity and leading to a pervasive sense of being overwhelmed. Moreover, the realities often presented on social media can fuel natural social comparison, contributing to feelings of inadequacy and isolation, impacting someone’s overall mental well-being and sense of safety in the world.
At TP Safety Services, we understand that workplace safety extends far beyond hard hats and hazard signs. It encompasses the well-being of every individual, especially in our increasingly digital workplaces’. That’s precisely why our consultancy services are designed to help organisations identify and mitigate these often-overlooked digital health and safety risks.
A crucial first step in tackling many of these issues is through comprehensive DSE (Display Screen Equipment) assessments.
Their true value extends far beyond compliance. A thorough DSE assessment, carried out by experienced professionals, can pinpoint ergonomic deficiencies in workstations that contribute to tech neck, eye strain, and other musculoskeletal problems. It’s about ensuring that the tools your employees use daily are set up to support their health, not hinder it.
If you’re unsure where to begin with these vital assessments, TP Safety Services can provide tailored solutions to ensure your team’s workstations are promoting well-being and preventing injury.
Furthermore, equipping your team with the knowledge to manage their digital lives responsibly is paramount. Our accredited health and safety training courses address the specific challenges of digital overload by teaching concrete controls.
In line with this, it is important to ensure individuals use practical strategies such as the 20-20-20 rule to alleviate eye strain (looking away every 20 minutes, at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds), micro-breaks and longer screen breaks to prevent physical stiffness and mental fatigue, or techniques for mindful screen time management. This proactive approach not only safeguards individual health but also contributes to a more focused, engaged, and productive workforce, reducing absenteeism and improving overall morale.
While devices are powerful tools, but like any tool, they come with risks if not used correctly and safely. It’s time to move beyond passively accepting the hidden dangers of digital overload and take a proactive stance on health and safety.
At TP Safety Services, we believe that a truly safe environment is one where both physical and mental well-being are prioritised, especially in the digital age. If you’re ready to transform your approach to digital health and safety and ensure your team thrives, we invite you to contact us today.
Let’s work together to build a safer, healthier future, one mindful digital habit at a time.
Here are a selection of courses you might find useful in relation to this topic
Assessing Display Screen Equipment
This course is aimed at companies who employ users of display screen equipment, or DSE as it’s often called and is intended to be completed by those who will be assessing the DSE set ups of employees. DSE is a term that covers a wide range of equipment. If equipment like this is not set up correctly, users are at increased risk from certain disorders.
Approved by IIRSM & CPD – Duration 110 mins* – £35.00
Free TrialBuy NowUser LoginDisplay Screen Equipment Awareness
This course is aimed at users of display screen equipment, or DSE as it’s often called. DSE is a term that covers a wide range of equipment. If DSE equipment like this is not set up correctly, users are at increased risk from certain disorders. As an employee, you share the responsibility to keep people safe at work. That means undergoing relevant training and ensuring that rules are followed.
Approved by IOSH, IIRSM & CPD – Duration 50 mins* – £35.00
Free TrialBuy NowUser Login*The course duration is based on the amount of video content shown and is rounded off. It does not account in any way for loading time or thinking time on the questions.
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