DSE & posture

Added: 12:21 05.08.2008

We have an employee who insists on 'spawling across his desk and slouching in his chair' He has been shown the correct posture, and how to adjust his chair and screen to suit, given advice and reminders but he insists on adopting his poor posture. He is now complaining of pains in his side and back. What more can we do to help this employee (short of strapping him in an upright position) and what is our legal position if claims work induced injury?

andrewdb | Post a reply | Report this question as unsuitable

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Re: DSE & posture

The DSE Regs are clear that you should have conducted an assessment before he started to use his workstation and hence if he claims, you could be on treacherous ground as you have not complied with very clear regulations Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002.

Have you conducted a proper assessment of his workstation using an ergonomist / occupational health physician?
The HSE VDU Checklist is probably insufficient if he is complaining of musculo - skeletal problems. If so, then if he ignores the advice given, he should be disciplined. VDUs are dangerous, just as any machine is and if he were operating a forklift in an unsafe manner, what would you do?

If you contact your Occupational Health provider, they will know someone who can do the assessment. Failing that, Job centre plus have access to ergonomists through the Access to Work scheme.

If you are Midlands based, we might be able to help.

BYT | 13:41 12.08.2008| Report this answer as unsuitable