Read the two texts below:

Write an essay summarising and evaluating the key points from both texts. Use your own words throughout as far as possible, and include your own ideas in your answers.

Write your answer in 240-280 words on the separate answer sheet.

1
A Pain in the Neck
In the middle of the twentieth century, typists started to complain of pain in their necks, shoulders and arms, and since then Repetitive Strain Injury has become a widespread problem which costs the world economy billions of pounds a year. With workers sitting at desks for eight hours a day for years on end, often with poor posture and poorly designed workspaces, it is hardly surprising that so many people develop problems. More and more companies are now calling in ergonomic consultants. They find that by following their advice productivity increases and claims for injury or illness greatly diminish.

Healthy Staff, Healthy Office
Certain characteristics of the workplace have been associated with injury. These characteristics are either environmental, e.g. temperature, lighting and noise, or task physical, which relates to the interaction between worker and environment, e.g. posture, repetition, duration and recovery time. Ergonomic solutions to these problems may include providing chairs with wrist and foot rests, moving desks to minimise glare without shutting out daylight and providing window coatings and blinds to further reduce glare in some areas. Such measures are good for employer and employee, reducing the number of injuries and working time lost, as well as cutting compensation costs.

                                


Many would agree that work occupies a significant proportion in our lives. However, sometimes working conditions do to people’s health more harm than good. Both texts offer complementary views on these problems and discuss the consequences. This essay will address the viewpoints and present personal argumentation.

Both texts agree that poor environmental conditions and task-related issues compromise one’s health. The former includes interior features, such as poor lighting and temperature, while the latter can relate to task requirements, such as glaring at the monitor for a prolonged time, resulting in Repetitive Stress Injury mentioned in the first text. The implications are multifold. On the one hand, workers’ productivity falters, leading them to seek medical care, which causes a strain on state budgets. On the other hand, employers find their businesses are compromised. Therefore, they seek to create an ergonomically sound office environment, hoping that this will enhance workforce efficiency.

I believe that adverse effects of modern jobs are becoming increasingly severe and the need to reverse the trend is urgent as much as ever. For one thing, people are becoming accustomed to the feelings of discomfort to the extent that this might lead to a point of no-return, were they might end up being almost dysfunctional. Treating work-related health conditions requires volumes of financial aid from the state budget—money, that could be spent healing serious diseases, while need for treatment for, say backaches from bending over a desk could have been avoided had proper conditions been ensured.

While corporations are capable of maintaining safe working environments, a glaring omission in both writers’ arguments is that they should first of all limit their staff’s workload and envisage periods of rest. I believe this will boost people’s productivity and benefit businesses.

In conclusion, occupational health problems can be minimized by improving the working environment and managing work wisely. This will not only serve the interests of individuals and businesses but will also encourage governments to redirect funds toward more urgent issues.


 02.07.2025

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