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Ergonomic Tips on Office Seating

May 30, 2001

Ergonomists suggest tips for selecting and using ergonomic seating in the office to reduce back pain.

Back pain is the second largest cause of employee absenteeism in the United States.

For people who work at computer workstations, good office seating is essential for preventing back pain and maintaining a focus on work.

Humantech ergonomists suggest following these tips when selecting and using ergonomic seating in the office:

Select a chair that easily adjusts in height. The range of adjustment should be enough for your particular body shape as well as the tasks you perform. For example, you may want the chair higher for keyboarding and lower for editing a document.
Make sure the backrest provides enough support for your lower back. Some chairs have adjustments for both the position and the tension of the backrest.
Before making a final chair selection, 'test drive' several for a few days each. You might find that different features are more important depending on the tasks you are performing. Try these adjustments before you purchase a chair so you can be assured that you get enough support where you need it.
Use your chair adjustments, and use them often. It's not uncommon for modern task chairs to have six or more different adjustments. They are there for a reason -- to make sure the chair fits you and your tasks, and to ensure that you can change your body position throughout the day.

>by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.