The importance of development student’s health and safety guidelines for sitting in the classroom: A brief overview
List of Authors
  • Norhazaedawati Baharuddin , Zamzarina Ahmad

Keyword
  • school furniture, ergonomic, furniture industry, prolonged sitting, musculoskeletal disorder, discomfort, sitting disease

Abstract
  • Research has linked prolonged sitting will cause several health concerns. Our bodies are designed to move, and research has shown that sedentary lifestyles increase health risks. In addition, musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), diabetes, cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and sedentary lifestyles can lead to premature mortality. Sitting between 4 - 8 hours will indicate a medium risk of sitting disease and sitting between 8 - 11 hours will demonstrate high trouble of sitting disease. In Malaysia, Guidelines on Occupational Safety and Health for Seating at Work were developed for workers, but unfortunately, this guideline does not include primary and secondary school students. This situation causes many discrepancies in school furniture's provision and specification requirements.

Reference
  • 1. Dunstan, D. W., & Owen, N. (2012). New exercise prescription: don't just sit there: stand up and move more, more often: comment on “sitting time and all-cause mortality risk in 222 497 Australian adults”. Archives of internal medicine, 172(6), 500-501.

    2. Watanabe, J. (2019). Health Risks Involved with Prolonged Sitting: Spreading Awareness to College Students

    3. Department of Occupational Safety And Health Ministry of Human Resources (2003). Guidelines on Occupational Safety And Health for Seating at Work

    4. Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia (2020). Statistik Pelajar Sekolah Rendah dan Menengah Tahun 2020.

    5. Anders Larsson, Kinnarps. How Do You Create Good Ergonomics at School?