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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
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We have two emps that have brought in exercise balls to sit on at their desks. If they fall off and hurt themselves isn't the company liable? Can we make them sign a waiver so the company is not liabl
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Forums » Topic Forums » General Forum » Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/3/2011 10:58 AM EDT
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Posts: 2146
First: 2/15/2006 Last: 9/14/2011 |
And since it is Friday, I must admit I immediately thought of this youtube clip from Ellen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHiqVygN-w0 |
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/14/2011 5:30 AM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 6/14/2011 Last: 6/14/2011 |
I happen to have an exercise ball that sits in a chair frame. It's very therapeutic and surprisingly stable. I don't see it as being more of a risk than a regular desk chair but if you have a concern about it, ask the employee to buy a chair frame made especially for the exercise balls. |
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/14/2011 5:40 AM EDT
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Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
Plafone- No that is not the way to operate. It is a work environment and management needs to set the safety standards. A standard, "safe" chair is what should be used. There is no incentive for the employer to increase the potential risk of a WC claim or injury regardless of the good intentions.
When/if the employee has an injury the employer will be told that they should have known that this was a riskier seat than a standard one. And who could argue when a simple visual inspection would disclose that fact? Management owns the safety issue and individual emloyees do not have the right to increase the workplace risk profile. |
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/14/2011 5:45 AM EDT
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Posts: 11
First: 4/27/2010 Last: 8/16/2011 |
Does anyone have any evidence that the exercise balls in the chair frames are less safe than traditional office chairs? I understand that people are using exercise balls for health reasons, just like some people use ergonomic chairs, stand-up desks, treadmill desks, etc. |
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/14/2011 7:03 AM EDT
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Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
grannybunny- Not sure having a study matters. The employer is in a no win situation and therefore should take a conservative position on an issue like this. Namely stay with the office standard. We know that folks have used regular office chairs for tens of millions of man hours and are a relatively safe device.
Just looking at these other chairs raises questions regarding their safety and I just do not think the risk/reward is worth it even if they are as safe. It only takes one accident and all the "I told you so.." folks will be all over it. Its kind of like wearing flip flops to the office. It is likely that they are more dangerous. Do I have a study to prove this? No but why should I take the risk? Again this is just my opinion and other companies may choose to take this risk and other risks. |
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/14/2011 8:55 AM EDT
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Posts: 1
First: 6/14/2011 Last: 6/14/2011 |
Where is the claim that a yoga ball chair is a hazard? Both me and several of my colleagues use them and they are much better for support than a traditional office chair. Do you have evidence of a yoga ball chair being a hazard? |
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Exercise Balls as Office Chairs
posted at 6/14/2011 10:02 AM EDT
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Posts: 2442
First: 2/12/2000 Last: 9/14/2011 |
If you do an internet search on the topic you will find a great deal of debate on the merits of using the Yoga ball as a chair. I have enclosed one of the negative views below. Once employers see that there is debate they tend to side with what has always been deemed acceptable in the past. The low risk approach.
I would suggest however that any product that you may be sitting on for long periods that does not offer any lumbar support is likely not the best chair for an office environment........ xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The Latest Fad in Office Ergonomics: Exercise Balls by Condensed article reprinted with permission from Ben Zavitz, CPE, EORM, Inc Youâve seen them, right? Those $20 exercise balls that everyone at the local gym and physical therapy clinics are using to improve core strength? Some folks swear that sitting on the ball is far superior to a chair. Is it possible that this new fad is both beneficial and cost effective? Before we answer that question, we need to understand some facts about the ergonomics of seated work. Here are a few facts: Sitting requires 15-20% less energy expenditure than standing. This is why most people prefer to sit throughout the day. Sitting places 20-40% more pressure on the lumbar discs than standing, depending on the type of sitting posture â sit up straight, sitting relaxed, etc. Sitting in a reclined position with lumbar support can actually reduce disc pressure and muscle activity. This is why my La-Z-Boy® recliner is so comfortable! A good chair supports the mass of the upper body and the weight of the limbs through four key features: the seat, the backrest, the floor or footrest and the armrests. Again, my La-Z-Boy® has all these features; I think Iâm seeing a trend here! According to Jane Clapp, co-author of Working on the Ball, combining fitness with work results in a balanced lifestyle for people who have little time to go to the gym. She believes that using a stability ball as a chair at work improves coordination, core strength, and makes people more alert throughout their day. How is this possible? The ball requires active sitting. Active sitting requires continuously maintaining your balance while engaging several muscles throughout your body. In other words, you are using balance and your core strength to keep you in the correct position. Are exercise balls effective? Based on a recent study comparing the experience of subjects sitting on a stability ball and a standard office chair without arm rests, there were no advantages to using the stability ball as an office chair and that its use for prolonged sitting may not be advantageous. And finally, the best guidance I can give you is that stability balls are not an effective solution for reducing lower back pain in the workplace because of these reasons: Active sitting increases the rate of fatigue due to constantly challenging your balance; Balls do not have a stable balance and present a potential safety risk of falling off; Balls do not have armrests or back supports, key features in supporting the body; A reclined sitting position produces the least amount of disc pressure and muscle activity â this cannot be achieved with a ball. The best way to reduce low back fatigue and discomfort from sitting is to limit prolonged exposure to sitting to one hour. Every hour, stand up and maintain a relaxed position for 10-20 seconds. Chose a chair that allows you to change your sitting posture frequently throughout the day. Before implementing any solution in the workplace, attention to job tasks and the associated postures of the body should be evaluated to ensure that ergonomic risk factors are not being introduced that would increase the risk of a work-related Musculoskeletal Disorder. |
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