Are neckties a safety and health hazard?

Bönnigheim, Germany – Wearing an overly tight necktie may cause workers to lose concentration and make errors, suggests a study from the Hohenstein Institute.

Researchers studied men who wore ties and found the men's concentration decreased up to 70 percent in one hour when the tie was knotted at a pressure of 40-60 mmHg. Consequently, their rate of errors for solving computer-aided reaction and coordination tasks increased 85 percent, according to a press release from the institute.

“One can have an enormous store of knowledge, be in a position of authority, have a degree and a doctorate – all that is not much help,” co-author Timo Hammer said in the release. “Men also have to know how and particularly how tightly to knot their ties.”

The study has not yet been published in a journal.