Best Practices for Employees Who Have to Stand All Day

Healthcare staff, security personnel, restaurant employees, hairdressers, receptionists, retail salespeople and many others all have one thing in common: they stand  at work. Although this is a natural posture for humans, standing all day can lead to physical problems, just like prolonged sitting. While we generally hear about the dangers of sedentary behaviour, what about prolonged standing? How can its effects on health be counteracted?

What Is Prolonged Standing?

According to a report by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, “prolonged standing can be defined as maintaining a standing position continuously for more than one hour or standing for more than four hours per day.”

In many professions, employees face this way of working for practical reasons directly linked to their tasks, as well as for image-related reasons. This is particularly the case for jobs in the service sector or industrial sector, such as assembly-line work. According to a DARES study conducted in 2020, nearly half of employees—48.7%, to be exact—report spending most of their working time standing. In the Fifth European Working Conditions Survey of 2010, 69% of workers reported spending at least 25% of their time standing or walking.

Risks Associated With Prolonged Standing

Although it does not cause traumatic injuries, standing all day has health consequences when workers do not have the opportunity to alternate with other postures and must maintain this position every day for too long.

The first consequence is undoubtedly musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), namely “conditions affecting body structures such as muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves, bones and the local vascular system.” However, it also has other effects, including:

• pain and disorders affecting the legs, knees, ankles and feet; 
• lower back pain;  
• high blood pressure;
• reduced blood circulation; 
• heart disease;  
• varicose veins;  
• fatigue;  
• problems during pregnancy.

What Does the Law Say About Standing at Work?

As work-related MSDs are the most common health problem, they are a priority in the European strategy for occupational safety and health. Accordingly, several European directives on occupational safety and health, which Member States must implement, set out measures to prevent and reduce the risks associated with prolonged standing. Following an assessment, employers must:

1. Design workstations and workspaces ergonomically in order to offer adjustment options and an organisation that promotes a comfortable position for employees. In addition, as indicated by the Labour Code, a suitable seat must be made available to every worker at or near their workstation. 
2. Promote a variety of postures among staff by organising work to make it more dynamic and thus limit standing. To do so, tasks should be balanced and teams should be offered opportunities for rotation as well as breaks.
3. Introduce furniture or accessories that help relieve discomfort if standing cannot be avoided, for example through floor coverings that provide some elasticity or anti-fatigue mats. 
4. Provide high-quality, comfortable work shoes. Flexible, lightweight models equipped with slip-resistant technology, which also provide greater safety, should be prioritised.
5. Raise awareness and train workers.

4 Tips to Share With Employees Who Have to Stand All Day

To relieve the body of the fatigue and tension caused by this demanding working posture, or to counteract its effects, here are some best practices to follow:

• Take breaks several times a day: although it is not always easy to stop, taking a few minutes is essential to relieve the harmful effects of continuous standing on the body.
• Wear suitable, comfortable work shoes that reduce the pressure placed on your legs and knees. 
• Make sure they maintain a balanced position and change posture regularly. If they cannot walk, advise them to avoid remaining still and to move in place.
• Encourage comfortable clothing, as clothing that is too tight contributes to poor blood circulation.

Improving working conditions for staff to limit the risks associated with excessive standing requires an overall strategy that offers alternatives as well as changes in habits. If you would like to learn about the benefits of our safety shoes, we invite you to contact our experts, who are committed to finding the model that meets your teams’ needs.