Belgium becomes the first country to legislate on back complaints

Recent media reports proclaimed Belgium as the first country to legislate on back complaints. Indeed, the Belgian federal government is working on a law that equates the risk of muscular and back injuries to exposure to carcinogenic substances or psychosocial risks. As a result, employers will now have to think about how they can prevent back and neck issues at work, making Belgium the first European nation to tackle this problematic subject with specific legislation. 

This puts the spotlight on the importance of ergonomics in the workplace. But what exactly makes an office workstation ergonomic? Here are three basic principles that can help to prevent back complaints and other sources of discomfort.  

1. The desk chair – A correct sitting posture  
   Do you suffer from back pain, stiff shoulders or even headaches after a long day at your desk? These are the most common symptoms caused by a poor sitting posture and a lack of ergonomic support.  
   
   It’s therefore worth investing in ergonomic desk chairs that are the foundation of a comfortable, healthy workstation – even if you’re working from home! Choose a model that can be tailored to the user's body thanks to adjustable seat height, seat depth, back support, armrests and lumbar support. This will contribute to a better posture, improved health, increased productivity and will even save on costs in the long term. 
   
   For high-quality back support, we put our trust in premium brands such as Flokk, Viasit and Wilkhahn. 
   
   
2. The standing desk – Change your posture 
   
   A sit-stand desk is the perfect solution to add a dynamic touch to your working day. Look at it as a worthwhile instrument for promoting health and well-being among your staff. That’s because it’s not just poor sitting posture that leads to health risks, but also our sedentary lifestyle, too. 
   
   The sit-stand concept is a simple, but powerful one: it offers employees the option to work both sitting down and standing up. This means they can vary their posture and combat the negative effects of prolonged periods spent sitting down. Changing position regularly and activating muscles improves blood circulation and reduces the stress on the back. Many employees notice that they feel more engaged in their work when they have the freedom to change their posture every so often. 
   
   Pami puts their faith in the Pami UP collection, available in a range of standard dimensions or tailored to your needs, from our own sustainable product range. 
   
   
3. Monitor arm, keyboard and mouse – The correct position  
   
   Alongside furniture, monitor arms, keyboards and mice play their part in determining whether a workstation is ergonomic or not. Did you know that having your monitor, keyboard and mouse incorrectly set up can lead to neck, shoulder and wrist complaints?
   
   A monitor arm enables the computer screen to be placed at the right height and distance in no time, and helps employees to reduce neck and eye strain. Ergonomic keyboards and mice help to maintain a natural hand and wrist position while typing and navigating around the computer, helping to prevent tension and fatigue in the hands and wrists. 
   
   We rely on ergonomic computer peripherals from Dataflex and other providers.  

By investing in an ergonomic workplace, you can turn your office into a comfortable, healthy environment where your employees feel good and are productive. 

Keen to find out how you can set each part up correctly? Get in touch. As office designers, it’s our goal to create an environment that isn’t just inspirational, but comfortable and healthy, too!