Posture is so important for our physical health. And with many of us sitting at a computer screen most of the day, it’s crucial that we’re sitting comfortably. Failure to do so can result in chronic back, neck, wrist, elbow and shoulder pain.
What is the legislation for chairs in the workplace?
Bad posture is so easily remedied, thanks to Regulation 11 of The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992:
Regulation 11: Workstations and seating
(1) Every workstation shall be so arranged that it is suitable both for any person at work in the workplace who is likely to work at that workstation and for any work of the undertaking likely to be done there.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), every workstation outdoors shall be so arranged that—
so far as is reasonably practicable, it provides protection from adverse weather;
It enables any person at the workstation to leave it swiftly or, as appropriate, to be assisted in the event of an emergency; and
It ensures that any person at the workstation is not likely to slip or fall.
(3) A suitable seat shall be provided for each person at work in the workplace whose work includes operations of a kind that the work (or a substantial part of it) can or must be done sitting.
(4) A seat shall not be suitable for the purpose of paragraph (3) unless—
1. it is suitable for the person for whom it is provided as well as for the operations to be performed; and
2. a suitable footrest is also provided where necessary.
How you can help your staff sit more comfortably.
Implementing ergonomics into your place of work is the best way to reduce aches, pains and injuries from sitting.
What is ergonomics?
Ergonomics is a science that puts the health and well-being of people first in the workplace. And this comes in many forms, including:
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Angle and height of the monitor.
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Height of the desk
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Placement of the elbows
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Placement of the hands and wrist
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Placement of the feet
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Support for the lower back
These are all affected by the position and height of the chair, and it only takes one to be incorrect to cause chronic pain, which can result in long-term injury.
In fact, the Health and Safety Statistics 2022 study by Osteopaths For Industry found that 477,000 workers suffered from musculoskeletal injuries and disorders last year, which resulted in the loss of 7.3 million working days.
So, if you want to boost productivity and reduce sickness, you need to ensure your staff are sitting correctly and comfortably.
Ready to support your employees
If your workers struggle with chronic pain caused by sitting all day, you need to do something about it.
That’s where Techsit can help.
We can give you guidance and support on correctly setting up workspaces with ergonomic seating, keyboards, mice – and more. Do that, and not only will you see an improvement in mood and concentration, but you’ll also see an increase in productivity too.
Are you sitting comfortably? No?
Then call us now on 0845 051 3812 or email info@techsit.co.uk