Ease Back Pain with the right Office Chair Castors
A recent report highlighting the workplace absence figure for 2012 shows that back, neck, shoulder and knee problems are still proving to be a huge issue for many in the UK.
A recent report highlighting the workplace absence figure for 2012 shows that back, neck, shoulder and knee problems are still proving to be a huge issue for many in the UK. These musculoskeletal complaints account for the greatest number of lost working days and workplace absences in 2012, according to the Office for National Statistics. The United Kingdom lost 190 million working days to absence last year, with each employee taking an average of six and a half days each. It has been calculated these days absence has cost the economy over seventeen billion pounds over the year.
With neck, back and shoulder being the most common complaints many employers can refer to the Health and Safety executive, who can review and risk assess working conditions and offers recommendations. Employers have a legal duty to manage the risk their employees are exposed to by initially carrying out a risk assessment, and following recommendations. One of the first simplest steps for many office workers is to ensure the correct seating position on office chairs, and in front of computer screens. A simply way to ease movement is to attach office chair castors to the base of the office chairs.
There is a wide variety of office chair casters, and by far the most common is a black twin wheel caster, which can be easily attached to the majority of office chair bases. With so many office chairs on the market, the most important factor is comfort and support. The office chairs need to be adaptable to suit individual heights and requirements. One important consideration, which is often overlooked, is the office chair caster wheel material. For example the caster wheels on any office chair react against the floor surface. The general rule of thumb is a hard wheel for a soft floor surface, such as carpet, and a soft wheel, such as a rubber wheel, for harder solid floor surfaces. A simple rule, but one that is often overlooked. This can affect the manoeuvrability of office chairs, and can lead to neck, shoulder and back damage and strain, if the wrong caster wheel is on the office chair.
A CBI survey made interesting reading regarding workplace absence and the cost to the economy. It stated Employees in the public sector took more sick days than those in the private sector. And far more absence in the public sector is long term absence. Targeting this absence could save the taxpayer around five billion pounds by 2016. This doesn’t mean the private sector is without its problems. As well as office environments, warehouse distribution and logistics centres have to take manual handling injuries as a serious cause of workplace absence. The Health and Safety executive are an organisation designed to aid employers to minimise risks and workplace accidents and absences. Their web sites highlights the benefits of using manual handling aids, primarily on casters and wheels, to ease manoeuvrability and reduce accidents in the workplace.
