View Full Version : Laws on back support
SpeedyPete
16-07-2003, 15:54
I work in the office 9 hours a day. Our chairs are colour coded with the rest of the office furniture (well, blue). Almost every evening i have to get my missus to click my back because of the crap support of these blue chairs. So, I went to get a good supporting grey chair from upstairs and the boss said I have to take it back cos the chairs have to be in colour keeping of the office, and refuses to buy me a knew one saying "shut up, theyre fine, no-one else has complained" At which point everyone else in the office agreed they are crap chairs.
What are the laws on this? I have an every growing bad back, Im only 21 for goodness sake, the boss wont buy me a new one, Im not going to buy my own.
Surely they MUST provide the correct equipement?
Anyone know the score?
I can see me going to the docs, getting refered to a back specialist then a note from them to say I must get better back support.
Moby-Dick
16-07-2003, 15:57
IIRC By law , your employer should have a Health and Safelty Rep - contact them and get them to do a workplace risk assesment.
That ought to do the trick ( health and safety law is quite strict - you coudl always try and contact the Health & Safety Executive if you dont get further - they will do spot checks on companies with no warning to see if they are complying with H&S rules )
I'm not sure if your employer has to give you a certain type of chair I'm afraid...
You could, however, try some different back exercises. I find it's very good (Having IT Bad Back, or ITBB), to lie on your front with your feet pretty close together, lift and support your upper body using your arms, and swing your pelvis backwards and forwards, then upwards and downwards, and maybe round in circles a bit....
Your girlfriend may be able to help you with this! :D ;)
if you suffer from bad backs under health and safety your empolyer should supply you with a better chair, and improved lumber support.
SpeedyPete
16-07-2003, 16:03
Originally posted by Moby-Dick
IIRC By law , your employer should have a Health and Safelty Rep - contact them and get them to do a workplace risk assesment.
That ought to do the trick ( health and safety law is quite strict - you coudl always try and contact the Health & Safety Executive if you dont get further - they will do spot checks on companies with no warning to see if they are complying with H&S rules )
noi health and safety rep im aware of.... thing is, if there IS one, its likely to be the boss not giving me the chair!
Moby-Dick
16-07-2003, 16:05
Originally posted by SpeedyPete
noi health and safety rep im aware of.... thing is, if there IS one, its likely to be the boss not giving me the chair!
in that case , explain to him that you will consult the Health & Safety Executive over it.
he'll probably fire you , but then you can sue for constructive dismissal and with the money , but a decent chair , like a herman miller aeron :-)
Originally posted by JackaL
You could, however, try some different back exercises. I find it's very good (Having IT Bad Back, or ITBB), to lie on your front with your feet pretty close together, lift and support your upper body using your arms, and swing your pelvis backwards and forwards, then upwards and downwards, and maybe round in circles a bit....
Your girlfriend may be able to help you with this! :D ;)
:D :D :D :D
LMAO :thumbs:
gaz.thomas
16-07-2003, 16:15
Just buy a new chair and claim it on expenses :D:D:D
Gaz
-x-
SpeedyPete
16-07-2003, 16:17
Yeah, I mean I know how to fix my back, I just have to click it back into place and it feels lots better, but doing that every day til Im 65 isnt exactly very good!
Also my ribs hurt, and I cant get the pain away without breathing in REALLY deep and then coughing, which clicks my chest (as there connected to the back its bound to be related)
Think Im gonna go see the doc, ask for somone to crack some bones (so to speak) and see if i can get a medical letter stating I should have a better chair. I mean, the knee ones, that force you to sit upright, are only £60 max
Mmmm tricky one this. A quick shufty through the Healthy & Safety bible I have on my desk seems to imply that you have right on your side, as well as supporting the employer as well. So at first glance not much help :(
However, if I'm reading this right, assuming you could get a doctors note about your back, relating it directly to your office chair (or at least saying that you office chair aggravated the situation) then Health and Safety would probably back you up.
Going to your boss and threatening him with H&S though is definately a bad idea because you'll be a marked man and first out the door at the earliest available opportunity. Better to arrange a private meeting with him (so it doesn't look like you are performing to the gallery), clutching your note and explaiing the situation in a calm and rational way. He'll know about the H&S implications if you've got the medical note without you having to spell it out.
If that doesn't work then it's up to you whether you take it any further.
You could always bring in a back support or something.
PS, having a colour coordinated chair policy and sticking to it rigidly sounds like a load of bollocks to me.
Dan@DB-Power
16-07-2003, 16:23
Pete is it a large company? or a small family one?
If it is a large one you will have a better chance of getting a chair as by law you need a health a safety executive. I know the building I work in has a couple.
Dan,
SpeedyPete
16-07-2003, 16:35
Originally posted by JB
PS, having a colour coordinated chair policy and sticking to it rigidly sounds like a load of bollocks to me.
Well thats just my boss for you mate. He'll question anything and everything, he even questions modding and how its pointless.
He drives an A4 deisel :rolleyes:
how about this for a temporary fix...
go to wilkinson and buy a cushion pad for 99p and a BLUE cushion cover, also 99p and put them together, then take the cushion into work and use it to help you sit in a more comfortable position.....
i used to suffer from alot of lower back problems, and had 2 years on pain killers because of it, but a cushion behind your back as a temporary measure, does help....
plus if you get a blue cover, he can't complain that it doesn't match the office,
and you'll only be out of pocket by £1.98!....
AshT_200
17-07-2003, 13:53
Originally posted by SpeedyPete
Well thats just my boss for you mate. He'll question anything and everything, he even questions modding and how its pointless.
He drives an A4 deisel :rolleyes:
Perhaps he just doesn't like you. :wack:
Originally posted by AshT_200
Perhaps he just doesn't like you. :wack:
:|
jim potter
17-07-2003, 14:52
i think by law it is the empolyeer's dty to provide you with the correct equipment for the job, so if ure chair hurts ure back and is causing u pain, he should change it for a more supportive model.
, btw do u get wrist supports provided and screens to go over the vdu's???
i take it your based at a computer for most if not all of the day.
jim
SpeedyPete
17-07-2003, 14:55
Originally posted by AshT_200
Perhaps he just doesn't like you. :wack:
that too.
but hes a pedantic ****er with everyone, its his attitude.
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