Results from an investigation last year conducted by the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health showed that a high percentage of news and media workers — more than 78 percent — consider themselves overworked, while figures on physiological fatigue were also high, the institute said.
The investigation involved 159 members of the news and media industry, including print and broadcast media workers such as anchors, photographers and editors, and encompassed health and fatigue questionnaires, and physical stress and fatigue tests.
The results of the tests showed that 78 percent of workers in the industry worked more than 10 hours on a daily basis on average, with 35.9 percent having poor sleep quality and 71 percent of subjects admitting to eating out every day, the institute said.
Fifty-six percent of subjects said they had irregular meal times, while 54.1 percent admitted to experiencing discomfort of the eyes, including itches and pains, the institute said, adding that 43.4 percent had migraines, 43.3 percent experienced joint pains and aches, of which 37.1 percent experienced tendinitis and another 54.7 percent experienced pain in their lower backs.
The physiological tests for the workers also showed a high percentage of irregularities, with 17 percent experiencing abnormal 17-Hydroxycorticosteroid (17-OCHS) levels, which measure adrenal gland functions, and more than 46 percent with more than 130mm of mercury (mmHg) in systolic pressure and 21 percent with more than 90mmHg in diastolic pressure, which are high levels, the institute said.
In addition to the physiological test results, interviews with the workers also found that news coverage of natural disasters, social justice — including demonstrations or social crises — and large-scale crises such as fires, airplane crashes or capsized ships place great psychological pressure on news workers, the institute said.
Deadlines, long work hours and physical activity involved in news coverage are all mental stress factors for the workers, the institute said.
The institute called on all media firms to reference the Ministry of Labor’s guiding principles on work time out of the office to come to an understanding with their workers on the best use of time management for both employers and staff.
The institute said it encourages employers to implement policies that would provide an equilibrium of mental and physical health both in and out of the office and create a friendly work environment.
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