Poor posture at work causing back pain and RSI
Poor posture at work is a major cause of back pain and RSI, resulting in a drop in productivity. According to the Health & Safety Executive, in 2016/17, nearly 9 million working days were lost in the UK because of musculoskeletal disorders.
The problems are compounded by the changes in the way we work. With the advent of technology, more and more of us are spending long periods of time sitting down at a desk working on a computer, making back problems even more likely.
It is a legal requirement that employers provide a suitable chair “for each person 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. The seat should be suitable to meet the needs of the individual and the task at hand.”
Sitting for long periods of time puts a lot of stress on the lower back. Sitting incorrectly causes poor posture which can lead to a lot of other problems such as muscle problems, spine problems and nerve constriction. So whilst it is up to the employer to provide a suitable chair, it is important that individuals take steps to improve their posture.