Seating Ergonomics in the Laboratory

In laboratory environments, it’s not uncommon for people to spend greatly extended periods of time working in seated positions. Unfortunately, neither is developing the bad seating habits which can lead to serious injuries. The key to preventing them is employing ergonomic principles in workspace design, seating posture and chair selection.

The first step in avoiding ergonomic problems caused by risk factors like repetition, force, temperature extremes and vibration is to work within an optimum comfort zone. To illustrate this point, think about the way you set a table – everything should be placed within easy reach and range of motion. That’s the way a workstation should be configured in order to avoid undue muscle strain and premature fatigue from overextending.

The next thing to consider is posture. According to ergonomic studies conducted at Cornell University, lower back problems of sedentary workers were associated with inappropriate sitting posture and poor chair design. The studies indicated that as seated people hunch forward, the lower back curves outwards into ‘kyphosis,’ or bending the spine opposite of its natural position. It was advised that people should be able to sit and maintain the lumbar spine in a position called ‘lordosis,’ adding that sitting on a good ergonomic chair with the seat pan curved from back to front to encourage the pelvis to rotate forward, helps the lumbar spine to maintain lordosis.

In the lab environment, kyphosis is a very common condition for microscope users. As they bend forward to look at a slide, they put maximum pressure on the spinal discs without even realizing they are doing so. BioFit chairs are fully adjustable, providing for full lumbar support and forward lean to counterbalance the tendency to slouch into poor posture. Additionally, ergonomic seating can also help maintain attentiveness in staff, increasing performance. That’s why it’s important to know the difference between true “ergonomic” seating and products merely labeled as such. Ergonomic seating produced by BioFit includes proven components and options such as:

a five-pedestal base
fully adjustable and cushioned armrests
a seat that allows for even weight distribution
lumbar support
easy-to-use height adjustment*

*Use the handy seat height calculator below to find out the optimal seat height** for your specific laboratory workspace or task.

** Based on established ergonomics research. Optimal seat height may vary depending on physical characteristics of user or situation.

There is simply no substitute for a durable, ergonomically correct chair. BioFit makes a range of specialty seating products for the laboratory market, each with components and functions for distinct uses and situations. All BioFit products meet or exceed industry quality standards, plus they’re backed by an industry-best 13-year warranty.

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