Ergonomic seating

Research shows that ergonomic seating increases comfort and reduces the risk of back pain.

Sensible seating at work and at home

The CSP officially endorses Steelcase seating products. Both the CSP and Steelcase are committed to promoting health and wellbeing. Our partnership allows us to share expertise, research and guidance.

A UK-wide CSP survey showed that 32% of people who work in offices experience physical pain at work at least once a week. A further 65% reported back pain as the most common problem.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) such as back pain are one of the biggest causes of sickness absence on any given day and are estimated to cost society and employers around £7.4 billion a year.

The CSP’s Move for Health campaign shows that health and wellbeing initiatives reduce sickness absence and improve productivity at work.

Exercise at work and at home

The video below from Steelcase shows some simple but effective exercises you can perform when seated at home or in the workplace.

CSP research and publications

Download Fitness Profits

The CSP produces a range of publications for employers, managers and HR professionals to help keep their staff safe and healthy.

Publications such as Sickness Costs (below) show how the health of the nation could be dramatically improved, and billions of pounds saved every year, if proven approaches like seating and physiotherapy were more widely used.

The following CSP publications and information leaflets are free to download and distribute.

Ergonomic seating and physiotherapy

Steelcase research uses ergonomics to inform product design. Infographics: Steelcase

Each individual’s spinal motion is unique, back pain relating to the seated position is the number one absenteeism cause. Steelcase ergonomic research identifies workplace-related problems that cause workers to suffer.

Poor seating can lead to back pain, lumbago, cervicodynia or sciatica. Ergonomic seating needs to be adaptable and able to accommodate worker's different key tasks. The main criteria for selecting ergonomic seating are:

Physical comfort
Adjustable height, allowing feet to remain flat on the floor or on a footrest
Ability to sit in contact with the backrest at all times
The backrest must offer even pressure on the lower and upper back
Chair controls should be operable while seated

Steelcase ergonomics research

Steelcase research shows that employees who are seated comfortably and ergonomically are more likely to feel valued and less likely to suffer from problems that can result in absenteeism and reduced productivity.

Introduction to ergonomics

The Steelcase Ergonomics and Technology white paper found that 77% of European white collar workers spend at least 4 hours per day in front of their screen, while 45% of spend more than 6 hours per day.

Ergonomics and technology white paper

According to the Steelcase IPSOS Workplace survey (2007), 59% of European white collar workers suffering from visual fatigue at least once a week, 46% from back pain, 44% from neck pain, 25% from wrist pain and 33% from headache.

Desk and workplace ergonomics

The Steelcase survey, conducted with IPSOS Public Affairs, explores workplace issues based on interviews with more than 2,400 workers from France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Spain and the UK.