Healthy extra breaks 'don't impact on productivity'

The study by the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) compared the productivity and comfort levels of people taking a "conventional" number of breaks and those taking "supplementary" breaks.

All workers spent 4 weeks taking two 15 minute breaks per day and and then another 4 weeks taking two fifteen minute breaks plus a further four 5 minute breaks per day.

Thos taking part reported significantly lower levels of discomfort and eyestrain as a result of the supplementary breaks. At the same time, data-entry speed was significantly faster with supplementary breaks so that work, meaning that work output was maintained, according to the researchers.

The findings were reported in the latest issue of the American Journal of Industrial Medicine.

Stretching exercises

NIOSH researcher Dr Traci Galinsky commented: "I believe that concerns about productivity would probably be the main obstacle to workplace managers considering a supplementary break schedule.

"We think it's pretty compelling that several studies now have shown that productivity isn't necessarily impaired."

Dr Galinsky and her colleagues had previously studied the effects of supplementary breaks in workers at the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This research also showed that breaks reduced eyestrain and discomfort without affecting productivity.

For the latest study, a selection of workers were also instructed to perform a series of stretching exercises during the breaks. No significant effects were noted in terms of levels of discomfort or performance, however few people had actually followed the instructions and carried out the exercises.

Dr Galinsky said the findings did not not mean that stretching exercises didn't work, but that they had simply emphasised how difficult it could be to get some workers to perform exercises. She conceded that more research was needed in this area.

Official guidance?

A recent study by the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive found that people working continuously at their computer for more than one hour without a break were more likely to display symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders.

The researchers claimed their findings suggested that guidance given in accordance with the DSE Regulations concerning breaks from work was not being followed.

The regulations call for "an appropriate pattern of work", with breaks or changes of activity at suitable intervals in order to reduce the risk of workers developing work-related upper limb disorders.

However, the duration or interval between breaks is not quantified, because of the variety of jobs linked to DSE work and a belief that the best arrangement is for users to have some individual control over the pace of work and when to take breaks.

Earlier research carried out the University of Nottingham suggested periods of work between breaks should be at least 50 minutes, but not greater than 120 minutes - and that breaks should be between 12 and 15 minutes in duration. This study considered only repetitive/short-cycle DSE work, such as data entry.