Observation of postures adopted by office workers at work showed that many of them performed their work in awkward postures. The common observations were shoulder elevation, and excessive bending and twisting of the neck and back. Many office workers often sit at the edge of the chairs, which resulted in the lack of support for the back.
Awkward postures, often aggravated by poorly designed workstations, can increase the risk of people getting MSD. MSD can be very painful and sometimes permanently disabling. The disorder can interfere with all aspects of daily life. Sometimes even the simplest household chores, hobbies and social events can become unmanageable. Financial costs can be severe. Employers can experience costs in a variety of ways such as lost time at work, medical treatment and disability cost. Hence, it is important to have workstations that are well designed for the users and the intended tasks to be performed.
