IVOR

apologies if I am telling you something you know, but take care with a 1 size fits all approach for someone who has serious back issues.

We are all individuals and a so called posture chair or orthopaedic chair that suits one person will not suit another. For most of us a chair that can be adjusted in accordance with the VDU guidance is fine, but for others you will need a specific seat pan suited to the leg length and the back height to suit the person etc.

If this person has serious back issues get an ergonomist to assess the needs. Some of the bigger chair companies will do this, but don't just accept an off the shelf chair from a catalogue.

Brian

An 'orthopaedic' chair is one that reliably provides postural, anatomical and task support to its user.

If the employee has a chronic condition, you may risk a claim under the Equality Act 2010 for failing to make a reasonable adjustment.

You can reduce the risk of such a claim by commissioning a qualified safety ergonomist (i.e. Eur Erg or MIEHF who is also a CMIOSH) to provide a suitable chair specification for you.

Should any claim arise for damages and a report by an expert witness (who is very likely to be a safety ergonomist) is required, this is likely to be all you need to demonstrate credibly you've made 'reasonable adjustments' as far as reasonably practicable.

Ivor have a relook at what has been said especially by Kieran D as U appear to be saying 'thanks but I will go ahead anyway with ordering a chair without getting competent advice'

Bob, I agree with kieren. Sorry if it didn't come across that way. This is the whole point of asking here to get the advice. I'm sure you guys must appreciate that as with most large companies, the difficulty is to chage the culture especially where we have inherited it from the previous H&S team.

In this case, from your advice, I have sent out various emails making the recommendation to get in the expert advice in.

I will definately bring this subject up at our next H&S meeting.

Thanks again for all the responses

From what I recall of a leaflet I saw recently by the British Osteopathic Association, the word "orthopaedic" is very widely used (misused?) by manufacturers and advertisers as an adjective for commercial products such as beds and chairs, etc. Therefore, in the absence of supporting medical evidence, the term in relation to such products should tend to be interpreted as meaning no more than "firm".

Also, just to add a touch of confusion, some products are described as "posturepaedic" or similar.

Some years ago, a friend of mine with a bad back started a new job in an office. The chair she was given was a rigid one or one with little scope for adjustment. She said she had a bad back and asked for an adjustable chair to help her avoid back problems. The boss didn't seem too pleased with this request but said he would obtain an appropriate chair. Some considerable time elapsed, and my friend wondered what was causing the delay in obtaining a conventional adjustable chair. As the boss wasn't the most approachable of people, my friend was wary of asking him about progress. Some weeks later he produced a sophisticated "orthopaedic" (might even have been "posturepaedic"!) chair and said it had cost a lot of money. My friend decided it was best not to tell him that that she had only asked for an adjustable chair and didn't need a fancy expensive "orthopaedic" one.

The reasons for mentioning the above tale in relation to work seating generally are 1) to suggest considering the condition and adequacy of the chairs already provided, and 2) to advise against assuming that all employees with bad backs or other conditions, diagnosed or otherwise, need expensive orthopaedic type chairs. Some may genuinely do so, but others may be happy with chairs which they can adjust and set to match their requirements. Also, obtaining professional advice from a physiotherapist, osteopath or similar practitioner may well be appropriate in some cases.

p.s. Ivor - no doubt some forum users hope that your headache has eased by now!