Seating at work: ergonomic selection and adjustment

Health and Safety Executive Managing the health and safety risks from seating in the workplace 6 Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (see Appendix 1), employers are required to assess risks(a) including those that arise from seating at work, and to have arrangements in place to protect employees’ health and safety. The principles set out in paragraphs 7-12 can be used to manage health and safety in the workplace, which includes seating. Planning 7 Planning allows employers to identify priorities and set targets for improvement. For example, employers will need to assess whether seating design is suitable and safe for the type of work being done. Employers will also need to consider any likely changes in the work conditions as this may require different seating design. The costs and benefits of different seating design may also need to be considered alongside the suitability of seating. Organising 8 Organising involves providing staff with the necessary training and equipment to do their job safely. In practice this means that staff should be shown how to use and adjust their chairs and equipment for maximum safety and comfort. Staff also need to be aware of their responsibility towards their own, and other people’s health and safety. It is important that employees notify their employers, or those responsible for health and safety, if seating is unsuitable, faulty or damaged. 9 Employers need to include staff in the planning and promotion of health and safety, as they are often the first to notice any health and safety hazards.(b) Keeping staff involved will ensure that they are committed to improving health and safety at work. 10 Employers are required to consult their employees on health and safety matters. Where safety representatives have been appointed by a recognised trade union, it is a part of their function to take part in the consultation process. Where there are employees not covered by trade union appointed safety representatives, employers can consult employees directly or via representatives elected for this purpose. For more information see Consulting employees on health and safety - a guide to the law (see Appendix 3). Controlling 11 Controlling health and safety risks includes setting standards and maintaining them. The standards set must be realistic and measurable. For example, those responsible for health and safety could ensure that standards on seating design and selection are maintained by following the good practice in this guidance. Seating at work Page 5 of 22