Neck pain and desk work: what EU rules say about screen work

How common it is

European studies report neck or shoulder symptoms in 30% to 62% of people who work at screens. 39% of EU workers work sitting down and 28% sit almost all the time. Long hours of sitting are linked to low back, neck and shoulder pain.

What the EU directive says

Council Directive 90/270/EEC covers people who use a screen for a significant part of their normal work. Employers must:

• Check workstations for risks to eyesight, physical problems and stress, and fix them
• Break up screen work with breaks or changes of activity
• Offer an eye test before you start and at regular intervals, plus special glasses if you need them for the work, at no cost to you
• Train workers to use their workstation properly

Equipment must meet minimum standards: a screen that swivels and tilts without glare, a separate keyboard, a large enough desk, a chair with adjustable height and backrest, a footrest for anyone who wants one, and good lighting.

EU-OSHA advice on sitting

• Sit for no more than half of your working day
• Get up at least every 20 to 30 minutes
• After 2 hours of sitting, get up for at least 10 minutes
• Do not sit for more than 5 hours a day at work
• Switch between sitting, standing and walking

As EU-OSHA puts it, the opposite of sitting is not standing; it is moving.

Small things that make a difference

Screen at eye level and straight in front of you, papers in front of you rather than beside the keyboard, forearms supported, mouse close to the keyboard. If your glasses do not suit screen work, get your eyes checked.

If neck pain continues despite these changes, a physiotherapist can help with treatment and exercises that take a few minutes a day.