Fitness balls are starting to show up in offices as workers realize how good they are at preventing back pain. However, using round, inflatable objects as chairs also poses some hazards. With a few precautions, you can take advantage of fitness balls without running any risks.
Advantages of Fitness Balls
Fitness balls have certain advantages in an office setting. One is that they can help prevent back pain. Spine-health.com lists fitness balls as a type of ergonomic chair. The website also reports exercise balls, because they require the user to move slightly in order to maintain balance, help improve circulation and reduce the strain of sitting too long in one position. This helps prevent back pain and may reduce workplace health costs.
Office Ergonomics
Fitness balls compress when sat on, thus you may find yourself sitting lower than normal. In order to maintain proper OSHA-recommended ergonomics--with the monitor at or just below eye-level and the hips, shoulders and ears in a line--you may need to lower the desk. If this is impractical, slightly increasing the air pressure in the ball or using a larger one may help.
Tripping Hazards
Though exercise balls are good for preventing back pain, they can also cause problems. OSHA hazard analysis guidelines encourage managers to check for hazards in walking areas that might cause falls. Exercise balls can roll into aisles and cause problems for workers looking ahead rather than at the floor. For this reason, exercise balls should be shoved under desks or otherwise secured so they cannot move when not in use.
Other Hazards
Exercise balls can be dangerous to their users as well as to other employees. Old or damaged exercise balls, or those positioned on inappropriate surfaces, could suddenly fail. That's why the American College of Sports Medicine recommends checking the floor for any sharp objects that could puncture the ball, as well as keeping the ball clean and in good repair.
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