According to Article 284 of the Labour Code, workers have the right to perform their duties under conditions of safety and health, and it is the employer’s responsibility to ensure these conditions and follow general prevention principles.

Occupational Safety and Health refers to a set of rules aimed at preventing professional risks and promoting and protecting workers’ health.

In administrative work environments, several risks should be highlighted:

• Musculoskeletal system: Standing is the most demanding working posture; however, sitting also entails unfavourable conditions, such as injuries to the upper limbs (tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, epicondylitis, etc.), lower limbs (bursitis, sprains), and the spine (neck pain, lower back pain, mid‑back pain, sciatica).
• Visual system: Looking at screens for long periods causes phenomena such as “computer vision syndrome”, irritation, dryness, and eye fatigue.
• Mental health: Stress is one of the most common problems in the workplace and may lead to burnout or professional exhaustion (a state of physical, mental, and emotional fatigue caused by excessive and prolonged work‑related stress).

To prevent these risks, IST recommends adopting the following measures:

• Proper placement of equipment: The monitor should be aligned with eye level, and both keyboard and mouse should be aligned with the wrist.
• High‑quality work chairs: They should allow height adjustment and seat inclination.
• Short stretching exercises: To promote muscle relaxation.
• Frequent breaks.
• Effective workload management: It is crucial to delegate tasks appropriately and provide sufficient resources to complete the work.
• Seek help when needed: Técnico offers psychological support through its Health Services, as does the University of Lisbon.