In this age of increasing litigation - the modern blame culture - there are most certainly risks for employers in allowing people to suffer from posture-related musculo-skeletal problems. Even though risk of legal action and prosecution is currently relatively low, the costs to employers of finding themselves on the wrong end of a claim for damages can be so high that it is worth reducing all risks as far as possible, especially as there are positive benefits as well from such investment. Employers that are able to demonstrate adequate steps have been taken to prevent and avoid posture-related problems and injuries will most easily be able to defend any claims that do arise.
The technical information in this article was kindly provided by workplace ergonomics expert Hugh Babington Smith (now retired, prior to which he ran the UK company Etcom People Engineers) and this contribution is gratefully acknowledged.