Consider your work chair. Is it comfortable and also supportive? Do you feel healthy being in it? Is it steady?
If you responded to “no” to any of these questions, you could need a new chair– one that is ergonomically correct. But it is essential for your company and you to do the research initially. “There are lots of ergonomic chairs available, however it can be a blunder to purchase one simply since it is labeled ‘ergonomic,’”
Some ergonomic chairs are more expensive than others but what matters is that the chair fits the person. According to the Canadian Center for Occupational Health & Safety, a chair ends up being ergonomic only when it:
- Particularly suits an employee’s dimensions,
- Their desk, and
- What work they do there.
The ideal chair is flexible:
- Can the seat height be adjusted? It’s really important that a seat elevates an employee to the correct height.
- Is the backrest adjustable? It needs to have the ability to be changed both vertically as well as in frontward and also backward directions. In addition, the chair should have a company lumbar support.
- Does the chair have a seat deepness appropriate for the worker?
- Is the chair stable? Having a chair with a five-point base is best.
Finding a chair that fits:
Office workers spend the bulk of their time sitting… and sitting incorrectly can lead to injuries. So to have a great chair that fits, take these variables into consideration:
- Understand that chair won’t always help every worker.
- Make sure the chair seat elevation is 1/4th the worker’s elevation, but also make sure it fits the employee’s leg-to-torso ratio.
- The same chair is not always ideal for all activities. Be prepared to have different types of chair in your environment that are task and worker specific.
- Some are surprised to learn that chairs require maintenance. Be sure to check with the manufacturer for what possible issues may arise.
- Be sure to allow users an opportunity to try and compare chairs. After all, they will be the ones using the chairs on a daily basis.
It may surprise you, but many workers’s compensation claims are related to poor ergonomics.
Millions of workers suffer work-related musculoskeletal disorders each year. Hundreds of thousands miss work as a result. Shockingly $1 of every $3 spent on worker’s comp claims is from inadequate ergonomic protection. Total annual costs for these types of claims exceed $45 billion each year.
The best “cure” for these situations is simple prevention. An investment in ergonomic chairs is far better than the claims that could result from poor seating for your workforce.
Have questions about ergonomics and their impact on worker’s comp claims? Be sure to reach out to your worker’s compensation insurance professional for answers!
