Warning of `sick' office claims

Irish employers could in time face claims for compensation similar to Army deafness actions because of poor workspace conditions in what are currently considered "low- risk" environments such as offices, it has been claimed.

"Sick building syndrome" and the activities of heavy industries would always make headlines, but many so-called low-risk work environments were receiving little attention, said Mr Ian Daly, chairman of the Irish Environmental Health Officers' Association. Self-regulation in such environments had been shown to be of little success.

Recent studies had shown that recommended standards for visual display units (VDUs) were being ignored. Long hours without breaks, in combination with work pressure and poor environmental conditions, placed a heavy burden on workers. While people were concerned about VDUs, a lot of problems were due to the amount of time spent in front of them, lack of proper posture and an absence of screen breaks. Only some repetitive strain injury cases had succeeded in Britain, but there were similarities to Army deafness cases in that plaintiffs claimed they were not advised of risk.