DSE, are you doing enough? DSE risk assessment is probably treated as the most “box ticking exercise” of any H&S best practice. Does anyone actually take it seriously and does anyone enforce the control measures? When did you as a manager or your manager ask someone if they recently did their 20-20-20? Should this even need to be asked? When did you see someone using a laptop on a daily basis for 8 hours+ per day? Does this even matter?
Well, if the HSE issue guidance about Risk assessment and safe use of DSE, that means it should be considered for keeping staff safe and healthy and prosecutions could be considered. But can this really happen? Is it likely that the HSE or a private law firm could prosecute an employer for not carrying out DSE risk assessment and enforcing control measures?
Well, lets go back a bit and consider something else…Pre HASAWA 1974, men were working down the mines with little H&S control measures in place. My own dad was one of these men who got vibration white finger, what we know of as today- Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome (HAVS). In around 1993 my dad successfully sued British Coal, along with thousands of other men for allowing them to work and then in turn contracting HAVS with in-adequate control measures. So, back to the question; will the HSE or private law firm prosecute? Too right! If they could prosecute when there was no legislation, you can bet good money they can now, especially when the guidance is readily available to employers.
I chose the example of mining as this is a great example of something happening in the workplace with in-adequate control measures and then years down the line, companies were being prosecuted due to it causing health issues further along. You could also consider construction firms being prosecuted for causing Asbestosis, mesothelioma and other forms of cancer when exposing staff to Asbestos.
But can the incorrect use of IT really cause impacts on peoples lives? Well, the short answer is we don’t really know the long terms effects yet as it’s only really been the last 20 years or so that people are using IT for 8 hours+ per day. However, the HSE do talk of RSI’s, eye damage, posture damage from incorrect seating position and etc. But we do rely on IT more and more now and remember, phones and tablets are also classed as DSE.
To summarise, I think employers need to do more. More so than ever with the boom of working from home operations. The HSE issue a legal responsibility to employers to carryout DSE risk assessment and I know first hand that employers don’t do enough. I will bet good money that in the next decade, advertisement will come on the TV saying; “Hey, did you use a computer in your job? Do you now need glasses? Do you suffer with sore hands, forearms or a sore back? If you answer yes to this, you could be owed thousands in compensation!” If a law firm came to your work and asked can you demonstrate DSE risk assessment has been carried out and control measures put in place, could you? If the answer is no, the lawsuit will likely be successful.
This is an easy fix, do a free assessment/checklist, give DSE training and enforce to control measures. Make sure staff have breaks, give a riser for laptops and keyboards and if you walk past someone slumped over a desk while typing-give them a nudge! These are the very basics and without Risk assessment you won’t know what to enforce…
I’d love to know peoples thoughts on this so please comment!
