Your employees are complaining about back pain. How can you help them work more comfortably?

Back pain is one of the most common complaints among office workers, and it can affect their productivity, health, and morale. If you want to help your employees work more comfortably, you need to consider how industrial design can improve their ergonomic chairs. In this article, you will learn how to evaluate your current chairs, what features to look for in a new chair, and how to adjust them to fit your employees' needs.

1 Why ergonomic chairs matter

Ergonomic chairs are designed to support your body's natural posture, reduce pressure on your spine, and prevent muscle strain and fatigue. They can also help you avoid injuries and chronic pain that can impair your work performance and quality of life. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), ergonomic chairs can reduce absenteeism, turnover, and workers' compensation costs, as well as increase employee satisfaction and engagement.

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David G.

Aider, Former, Éduquer, Simplifier, Accompagner, et toujours faire grandir...
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A chacun sa chaise ! Le marché des sièges ergonomiques est vaste et propose toutes les solutions afin que chaque utilisateur quelque soit sa taille, sa morphologie, sa pathologie ou en préventif puisse choisir le modèle qui lui conviendra. Les gammes de sièges ergonomiques ressemblent aux gammes de matelas et ont d'ailleurs les mêmes mécanismes de confort (mémoire de forme, assise avec ressort...) Les chaises d'entrée de gamme sont concus pour les personnes de tailles moyennes car les réglages sont moins précis et moins amples.+ on monte en gamme +le confort est au rendez-vous, plus la garantie est élevée (de 2 ans à 10 ans...).Encore faut-il ajuster les réglages à la taille de l'utilisateur...sinon c'est l'effet inverse recherché.

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Deborah Wilder

Workplace strategist | Work psychologist | Mentor | Inclusive Design | Director at Workwell PEOPLE | CLIMATE | SOCIETY
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In any office or workplace where people are sitting down for a large period of time, all task chairs should be good quality and fully adjustable. If these are provided then 99% of people should not need 'their own' chair. The days of people requesting a special chair because they have a bad back/neck etc should be long gone.

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2 How to assess your current chairs

Before you decide to buy new chairs, it's important to evaluate your current ones and see if they meet basic ergonomic standards. You can use a checklist from OSHA to inspect your chairs and identify any issues or risks. The seat height, width, and depth should be adjustable and suitable for employees' height and weight. Additionally, the seat should have a firm and comfortable cushion that supports the thighs and buttocks without causing pressure points. The backrest should be adjustable and support the lower back and spine's natural curve, while the armrests should be adjustable to allow arms to rest at a 90-degree angle without interfering with the desk or keyboard. Finally, the chair should have a stable base with five casters that allow easy movement and rotation.

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David G.

Aider, Former, Éduquer, Simplifier, Accompagner, et toujours faire grandir...
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Quelques suggestions pour commencer : Siège avec accoudoirs de type 3D au minimum (Hauteur, Largeur, profondeur), voir 4D (Hauteur, Largeur, profondeur, intérieur (la platine 4D permet pour des personnes de petites tailles de tourner les accoudoirs vers l'intérieur afin que les coudes reposent bien sur la platine et éviter que les accoudoirs soit trop larges meme reglé au minimum de la largeur...) une fois ce choix de base, il faut savoir comment regler son siège car un siège ergonomique mal réglé ne résout pas les problemes, au contraire...

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3 What features to look for in a new chair

If your current chairs are outdated, damaged, or inadequate, you may want to invest in new ones that offer more ergonomic benefits. There are many options available in the market, but not all of them are equally effective or suitable for your employees. When shopping for a new chair, make sure it has a waterfall edge on the seat to prevent the edge from digging into the back of the knees and impeding blood circulation, as well as a lumbar support that can be adjusted in height and depth to fit the shape of the spine and provide optimal support. Additionally, look for armrests with a padded surface to reduce pressure on the elbows and wrists and prevent carpal tunnel syndrome. The chair should also have a tilt mechanism that allows the seat and the backrest to recline together or separately, depending on user preference and task. Lastly, consider a headrest that supports the neck and head to prevent neck pain and headaches.

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4 How to adjust your chairs to fit your employees' needs

Even if you have the best ergonomic chairs in the world, they will not do much good if they are not adjusted properly to fit your employees' needs. Each employee has a different body type, height, weight, and preference, so it's important to provide guidance on how to use the chairs correctly and comfortably. To adjust the chairs correctly, you should make sure the seat height allows for feet to rest flat on the floor and knees at a 90-degree angle. The seat depth should be two to four inches from the back of your knees. The backrest should be adjusted to support your lower back and follow the natural curve of your spine. The lumbar support should fit snugly into the curve of your lower back for adequate support. Armrests should be adjusted for a 90-degree angle and relaxed shoulders, while headrests should be adjusted to support your neck and head in alignment with your spine. By following these steps, you can help your employees work more comfortably and reduce their back pain. However, it's also important to encourage them to take regular breaks, stretch their muscles, and change their position frequently to avoid stiffness and soreness. Ergonomic chairs are a tool that can enhance well-being and productivity - not a magic solution.

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David G.

Aider, Former, Éduquer, Simplifier, Accompagner, et toujours faire grandir...
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en plus d'un bon réglage de votre siège ergonomique, pensez à ajuster la hauteur d'assise pour que les accoudoirs une fois réglé soit à la hauteur du plan de travail. Pensez à mettre les pieds sur un repose-pied si la hauteur d'assise ne permet pas de poser les pieds au sol...la hauteur idéale est bien par rapport aux accoudoirs. Pensez à l'alternance de posture ( assis-debout) qui est essentielle pour votre corps au moins une fois par heure.

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5 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Deborah Wilder

Workplace strategist | Work psychologist | Mentor | Inclusive Design | Director at Workwell PEOPLE | CLIMATE | SOCIETY
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Good quality, fully adjustable ergonomic chairs should be complemented with height adjustable desks. In some workplaces all desks are now height adjustable. This allows not only for those with back issues, or simply for those of different heights, but it should also be preventative - keeping people from being too sedentary, which will help their posture, their blood flow and their energy and concentration levels.

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David G.

Aider, Former, Éduquer, Simplifier, Accompagner, et toujours faire grandir...
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l'alternance de posture est recommandée et ne pas rester assis plus d'une heure sans bouger même avec un bon siège ergonomique...

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Your employees are complaining about back pain. How can you help them work more comfortably?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Why ergonomic chairs matter

2 How to assess your current chairs

3 What features to look for in a new chair

4 How to adjust your chairs to fit your employees' needs

5 Here’s what else to consider

Industrial Design

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Your employees are complaining about back pain. How can you help them work more comfortably?

1

2

3

4

5

1 Why ergonomic chairs matter

2 How to assess your current chairs

3 What features to look for in a new chair

4 How to adjust your chairs to fit your employees' needs

5 Here’s what else to consider

Industrial Design

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