| If you happen to be working in a customer service | | | | service delivery. |
| occupation such as a call center position then you will | | | | In my workplace we have a designated health and |
| be required to sit at a desk and use a keyboard to | | | | safety delegate who has the job of finding out through |
| access databases and carry out computer related | | | | a 6 monthly survey if anyone has a disability of any |
| work while also taking calls from customers. In some | | | | sort or whether the resources they are using need to |
| businesses this work can be fast paced and making | | | | be replaced. In fact last year I mentioned my chair was |
| time to take a break can sometimes be easily | | | | uncomfortable and not supporting my back enough. |
| overlooked. | | | | Two days later an Occupational Health Consultant |
| It is of course the responsibility of an employee to take | | | | proficient in posture visited me in the workplace and |
| their assigned break but what happens when a fellow | | | | within a week I had a brand new ergonomic |
| worker has called in sick leaving a gap in the | | | | comfortable chair to sit in all paid for by my employer. |
| workplace that places additional pressure on the | | | | Having an employer who is aware of their obligations |
| remaining staff members? Leaving your desk and | | | | with regard to the health and well-being of staff is |
| telephone lines flashing with incoming calls while you | | | | certainly helpful. However, if an employer is not |
| are away drinking coffee certainly would not go down | | | | proactive in ensuring customer service call center |
| very well with an employer particularly if the reputation | | | | operators are free from harm through for example the |
| of a business is reliant on providing good customer | | | | poor positioning of a computer monitor or they have a |
| service. | | | | defective chair that could exacerbate a sore back |
| Many employers however now realize the importance | | | | condition, then there is a real risk that employee could |
| of providing relief cover for staff so they can have | | | | end up taking valuable time off work with a sore back |
| regular breaks or because they are away from the | | | | or neck. |
| workplace through sickness or for various other | | | | In summary, the downside of having a poor health and |
| reasons. They also realize that having staff members | | | | safety program in the workplace is that staff wellbeing |
| on extended sick leave as a result of a workplace | | | | could easily be overlooked in essence because having |
| related injury not only places extra strain on existing | | | | defective equipment and resources has the potential |
| staff resources, but it can also have the effect of | | | | to cause all sorts of health problems from RSI, eye |
| compromising a businesses customer service | | | | strain, sciatica, neck and back pain to name a few. |
| relationship with its clients through poor customer | | | | |