I know this has been covered in previous threads but is anyone aware on any HSE guidance around the subject of swiss balls as office chairs. Cant find any so im guessing there isnt none! :)

Large spherical balls full of air that you might see in a gym. Picture a giant beach ball :)

Large spherical balls full of air that you might see in a gym. Picture a giant beach ball :)

http://www.worksafe.vic....-not-suitable-as-a-chair

Ok let’s have a look at the DSE regs. Guess what nowhere in the regs does it suggest that the chair has to be adjustable. There is a suggestion in the guidance that it would be good idea if a chair was adjustable so that the workstation could be adapted to the user but there is no requirement for the chair to be adjustable. I have done DSE assessments(which is the basic requirement under the regs) in people’s homes and I have decided that a kitchen table and chair are suitable for that individual to use as their workstation. So I have never had any issues with people wanting to use a Swiss ball.

Hi Stonecold beat me to it, but my comment is that, and I'm willing to admit that I could be missing something here, the legal stuff often seems to contradict itself to my way of thinking and here’s an example. As Stonecold shows, it says shall, which I read as must, but my views on all of this are that this is guidance, and we all know that you ignore guidance at your peril. So in the end what does the HSE say? Well I guess it says whatever it wants to say and that changes according to the time of day phase of the moon and other (more specific) circumstances. So we’re left as always with opinion and conjecture until a court decides, and the legal eagles get their income from these vagaries in the law that our legal system seems so wedded to leaving. We’re just left to flounder in a mire of unknowns and just have to have the force of personality to try and enforce our view of what the regs do and don’t say. What a farce! Graham

Stonecold Its worth noting that Worksafe are the Regulator in Victoria, Australia.

Let’s be real: If a person wants a Swiss Ball and their physio recommends it, I would not go against this advice just to comply with the law. I cannot imagine the HSE coming along and checking to see if every chair complies with the prescription of the law. If the chair is prescribed for a medical condition, then it should reduce the likelihood of the user suffering back pain etc. What we should be doing is looking not at the letter of the law but its purpose, which is to reduce the harm produced by bad posture and poor ergonomic design. I cannot see the point in supplying an expensive but useless chair just to comply with the letter of the law (or to keep the insurers happy).

The HSE guidance, ( & the DSE regulations & the EU Directive ) is/are years behind and not kept pace with other seating options. I have permitted such swiss balls as chairs, but only on basis of medical input from a recognised professional.

n=1 time. My wife, when pregnant, loved sitting on a swiss ball and found it significantly more comfortable than any other chair around. Fundamentally I believe that the requirements always come back to risk assessment and individual comfort/health requires an individual risk assessment. If a medical professional is willing to sign off on it along with the individual in question then I think your evidence is strong (for those worried about future liability). I would, however, flag up two things. 1. Physios are as subject to misunderstanding evidence and research as the next person. If they weren't then so many of them wouldn't practice acupuncture etc. ;) 2. Swiss balls have a series of specific maintenance checks that your standard chair wouldn't have - largely developed within the fitness industry (albeit these will be used in a different way but still fall under PUWER). There was a history of them going pop at inconvenient times.

In terms of the DSE regs being out of date - absolutely. Will the HSE come round and check - no. But when the regs emerged in the early 90's many office workers had limited access to decent chairs - different times, different times. The regs do have some ambiguity in any case: "An employer shall ensure that a workstation meets the requirements laid down in this Schedule to the extent that" " . . . those requirements have effect with a view to securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work . . ." AND re "Equipment: The use as such of the equipment must not be a source of risk for operators or users." Which opens the door to situations where health or personal conditions require something other than a standard (adjustable) chair. A friend uses a ball for office seating, but doesn't tend to spend all day there. I have used a kneeling chair for years (at home where the safety police can't catch me) which specifically encourages an upright posture sustained by your muscles. And like any other posture, sit, stand, balance, the key is variety and the ability to rest from time to time. I would try to find out more about the condition this is being suggested as a solution for (first step). I am not keen on the idea of balls, beanbags, recliners etc in the workplace because of the additional safety problems they bring, and they don't mix well. I have supported the use of kneeling chairs on occasion, but noted that these were abandoned and left languishing in a cupboard. Maybe they do the job and then thats it - back to the usual chair. I suspect the same for the balls, eventually people need to rest properly, and be able to concentrate on one thing, then will get fed up and go back to a chair. For backs requiring muscle strengthening, sit-stand techniques may be a better option, as there is the normal chair to offer a change of posture and rest. This is more compatible with a standard office, and could be an alternative, to be discussed with any physio or orthopedic medical adviser, who may not have thought of it or realised your capacity to consider it. However, as we see, there's no 'rules' about it one way or the other.

Oh for a 'like' button!

Doesn't seem contentious to me. Each to their own if an employer is willing and able to provide.