Sedentary behaviour case study - Department of Police and Emergency Management

Visitors to the Department of Police and Emergency Management (DPEM) can be forgiven for taking a second glance around the office when they see staff doing chair squats at their desk or playing hopscotch at the photocopier, but it's all part of a trial aimed at putting physical activity back into the workplace.

Through the Healthy@Work grant program the Department received $32,000 to work with the University of Tasmania to develop a computer-based exercise program called Exertime and to implement a trial of the program within the Department.

Manager of Occupational Health and Safety, Mike Cosgrove said, “The application process for acquiring the project funds was excellent. The application helped to clarify the whole project”.

Exertime is initiated by an automatic reminder to get moving that pops up on an employee’s computer screen after they have spent a period of time sitting down at their computer.

There are 65 activities to choose from, ranging in intensity from chair based knee lifts, hop scotch at the photocopier, through to push ups and burpees. Activity time lasts between one to two minutes. The employee then logs their progress by entering it into the computer.

Administration Assistant, Miranda Welsh said, “I’m excited about something new and different in the workplace”. When asked whether she thought her colleagues shared her enthusiasm Miranda said, “Once they get started, they’ll get used to it, it’s really easy.”

Exertime was developed by University of Tasmania Human Movement researchers Dr Dean Cooley and Dr Scott Pedersen, as a component of Project PAUSE (Physical Activity Using Short-burst Exercise), a joint initiative between UTAS and the Department. Dr Cooley said that today’s office environment is a more sedentary one than in the past. “For example, instead of walking to a co-worker’s office down the corridor to communicate, we are more likely to send them an email.”

Exertime was launched by Acting Assistant Police Commissioner Donna Adams, and the statewide Exertime trial will begin in May 2010 using 60 participants over 26 weeks. At the end of the trial the participants’ progress will be assessed using pre and post-program questionnaires and cholesterol counts.

The Exertime program was launched in May 2010, involving 60 participants over a 12 month period. The program provides a reminder that encourages the participant to stand up and undertake one of 65 activities ranging from push ups to chair lifts. Exertime activities take on average, one to two minutes to perform, throughout the workday, occurring 10 to 12 times. The employee then logs their progress by entering it into a computer.

The participants’ progress was evaluated through pre-trial and post program questionnaires and cholesterol counts. Key outcomes include:

  • a significant decrease in blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides following the intervention;
  • reported increases in both physical and mental health; and
  • a reduction in the number of musculoskeletal complaints and work-related soreness.
  • Exertime is an innovative opportunity for employees to improve health and fitness while at work.
  • - Donna Adams, Acting Assistant Police Commissioner