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Take care of your back and prevent long term damage from bad posture -

Posture is very important for back health and this is equally important when working in the laboratory or sitting at a desk. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. The correct posture will:

Keeps bones and joints in the correct alignment so that muscles are being used properly.
Helps decrease the abnormal wearing of joint surfaces that could result in arthritis.
Decreases the stress on the ligaments holding the joints of the spine together.
Prevents the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions.
Prevents fatigue because muscles are being used more efficiently, allowing the body to use less energy.
Prevents backache and muscular pain.

Correct sitting position

Sit up with your back straight and your shoulders back. Your buttocks should touch the back of your chair.
All three normal back curves should be present while sitting.

Here's how to find a good sitting position:

Sit at the end of your chair and slouch completely.
Draw yourself up and accentuate the curve of your back as far as possible. Hold for a few seconds.
Release the position slightly (about 10 degrees). This is a good sitting posture.
Distribute your body weight evenly on both hips.
Bend your knees at a right angle. Keep your knees even with or slightly higher than your hips. (use a foot rest or stool if necessary). Your legs should not be crossed.
Keep your feet flat on the floor.
Try to avoid sitting in the same position for more than 30 minutes.
At work, adjust your chair height and work station so you can sit up close to your work and tilt it up at you. Rest your elbows and arms on your chair or desk, keeping your shoulders relaxed.
When sitting in a chair that rolls and pivots, don't twist at the waist while sitting. Instead, turn your whole body.
When standing up from the sitting position, move to the front of the seat of your chair. Stand up by straightening your legs. Avoid bending forward at your waist. Immediately stretch your back by doing 10 standing backbends.

Camlab have a range of laboratory chairs, that are wipe down, hardwearing, and have fire retardant coverings. Chairs are available that have antistatic properties, mandatory for aeronautical, defence environments where furniture needs to be static safe (ESD) compliant. Antimicrobial coverings are also available which inhibits the growth of organisms. The seats can be cleaned with medical grade detergents easily without ruining the appearance or durability of the seat. Camlab can also help with the design of your new laboratory. For more information