Posted By dervan If a company wanted to introduce a relaxation area with one or more Wii units would you be for or against is as H&S Professionals? its an office environment. Just wanted to see how other opinions compliment / contrast with my own. Cheers

Posted By M Forbes Lol, saying that thought i wouldnt mind a Wii at my work. O and on another note, have you ever played a Wii, forgive me if i picked you up wrong but you said you were creating a relaxation room? 2 grown men jumping about punching the air and anything that gets in their path for half an hour is not relaxing. . . . Hehe anyway just trying to find my sense of humour - i know i had one before i started H&S Regards

Posted By M Forbes On a serious note there are many - many good reasons not to have a Wii iny our workplace. Risk of RSI - Risk of physical injury from incorrect movement and exercise. Risk to the workers who've had "too much to eat over the festive period" (you dont want any heart attacks)(and im referring to fattys) High risk of flying objects. Risk of electrical fire when the wii remote goes through the tv screen. Lose of performance due to the fact all your employees are fekin nackered cuz they have spent their dinner hour punching air 100 times a second. Anyway im not doing too good at being serious here, so im just gonna shutup. There are many reasons not to ahve one of these at work though I mean its maybe being a bit of a killjoy, but surely they could make do with a ps3 or xbox? if they really must play computer games. Anyway thats my (half-serious) tuppence worth. Regards Martin Forbes

Posted By Blaise Interesting points raised against allowing Wii's but what about that good points. These games consoles are now being introduced into retirement homes to encourage the residents to become more active. As long as the use of the console is properly risk assessed (yes that old excuse) with games selection being included, use of such a games console can be used to benefit the health and well-being of the user. The 'fattys' (of which I am definitely one) can be encouraged into exercise and improving their fitness levels and health. It could also be used to reduce stress levels although it could raise them when getting frustrated. It's all Pro's, Con's and risk management Blaise

Posted By dervan "What happened to your last posts?" you may have used a thinly disguised naughty word as I did...

Posted By Blaise M Forbes I have to disagree with your comment 'However it just isn't practical in a working enviroment'. Maybe not in any working environment you can think of, but i can think of several, including software designer for a games company developing games for such consoles where it has to be practical. Blaise

Posted By dervan software designer for games company - then this is work and not a health promotion or wellness incentive ? and in that instance where people may be testing consoles where they would experience an increased risk in WRULD's would it be prudent to introduce more of the same for off duty hours? Not knocking your point there however workplaces are very different.

Posted By M Forbes Alex, i pointed out the problems in an earlier post, but it got removed due to me using @ symbols to mask a swear word. . . . Anyway issues arising from the use of the Wii are: Increased risk of RSI, Risk of muscle damage through performing physical exercise incorrectly Risk of increasing blood pressure and heart stress to the "bigger" employees Potential for projectiles (flying controllers)(seriously!) Risk to other employees in the area of getting stricken by an employee carried away "batting" or "boxing" Risk of electrical fire when the wii remote goes flying through the tv screen. May reduce employee performance, as spending an hour at dinnertime "boxing" with your mate will tire employees out. (I know after a half hour of boxing with my mate im out of breath and nackered) Theres a lot of problems that come with big kids playing with little toys whilst moving really fast and not concentrating on anything the tv screen. Just buy them an xbox and tell them to shut it.

Posted By Blaise Again I refer to my earlier post - put in control measure identified during a risk assessment. Limit the session time - reduces risk of RSI and over exertion. Make sure a safe 'play area' is marked out and kept free of slip and trip hazards - avoids people hitting each other and makes sure people are away from the screen. Game selection - make sure their are games for all levels of fitness and skill. Training - ensure players know how to secure the safety lanyard which stops controllers being thrown through the screen. Maintenance - ensure regular visible checks are done on the wiring and portable appliance testing if necessary. Blaise

Posted By Blaise M Forbes As someone who is 'Morbidly obese' (40+ stone and 70+ inch waist)I have bought a Wii to increase my exercise levels and do know all about the frustration of being 'beaten down' in a game, but levels of skill on such games are not always dependent on size but speed and hand/eye co-ordination. A most lecturers on stress will tell you the release of anger by screaming and shouting can reduce stress levels in many people. yes I agree there are for more hazardous situations in most workplace that should be addressed first, but sometimes an 'easy win' situation can help boost morale and increase co-operation. It doesn't need to be a relaxation area with a Wii, it could be something as simple as providing free water bottle or good quality PPE. Every little helps Blaise

Posted By M Forbes Paul, that really depends on the game your playing. You play Wii sports - boxing for an hour against a friend and tell me you dont think youve done exercise, seriously the first week of having my wii was more painfull when i first started the gym and went 3 days in a row for 2 hours. I had aches and pains all over me with my muscles getting exercise. Im 19, thin and perfectly health after playing wii boxing for an hour (if i can last that long) i have literally seen me with sweat running down my face and dripping off my chin. Some Wii games are hardly any different from xbox games, like need for speed - ok so you have to tilt the controller to drive, but thats nothing new to me cuz apparently when i use to play gran turismo on ps2 - i tilted the controller and my whole body whilst turning corners anyway. . . . dont know what i expected to achieve. I do believe playing wii sports the boxing more than anything is great for burining calories. And id recommend it to any fat geek as a way of losing weight (not a dig at you blaine) Regards M Forbes

Posted By R M Diss At first glance I thought this thread was referring to the Workplace Regs i.e. suitable and sufficient sanitary conveniences, then I realised I was thinking of a different wii unit! I can see the headlines now...H & S killjoys ban wii consoles etc!

Posted By M Forbes andyp - i find your view quite concerning, are you employed in the health and safety profession? Just because a piece of equipment is being used by the general public, does not mean it is safe to use in a workplace. For example, take a bench saw. Millions are owned in homes throughout the world, and are used by the general public AT THEIR OWN RISK. The difference between a workplace is that employees using company equipment in company time is at the companies risk, not the person. If Fred the joiner cuts his finger off at home, he picks it up and goes to casualty, and gets it stitched back on If Fred the joiner cuts his finger off at work, there will be an incident investigation, the area will be cordoned off, witnesses will be interviewed, HSE (If involved) will demand to see Risk Assessments, The proof of competency will have to be rechecked. The equipment will be checked, the maintenance log will be checked. Then finally the employee may launch a courtcase, in which case the company may stand to lose tens of thousands of pounds, if the above measures are not in place. Just because these Wii's are used extensively at home does not make them safe. In a workplace the owner of the company is responsible for anything that results from an employee working on his premises and/or using his equipment. There are very few pieces of equipment that do not require a need to RA. Regards M Forbes

Posted By dervan Andy, I hear you and on the one hand think you are dead right - once we get everyone to read the handbook / few safety instructions that come with Wii, understand that the job does not request or require them to operate this but if they do they need to do so correctly then they can "knock themselves out" proverbially of course. Could it be likened to a an onsite gym which employees use at their own risk... - I think so but am open to correction The problem I have is unfortunately wearing a silly wig with no notion of anything but the law... The great Mr Clarkson would love this i think!!

Posted By dervan Forbes - I think you might be a bit patronising in your response - did you mean to be? we all know about hazard and risk - Safety 101...

Posted By M Forbes Dervan, yeah i meant to be patronising as andy suggested that there was no need to risk assess. It was not aimed at yourself. Rob, I also thought about that, seems like a better idea. I know id rather have a pool table than a Wii and it does highly reduce the risks. People generally stay away froma pool table while it's in use, wheras people usually come up to you whilst playing the Wii and say "i want the next tu....*PUNCH*" Just inform the employees a Wii is off records but (if space allows) they can choose between a pool table or other entertainment consoles. Also get me a job there, we're lucky to have a kettle here! Regards M Forbes

Posted By andyp Forbes Do you honestly believe that a wii console poses a greater risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of persons than a lot of workplace equipment??? Whilst i appreciate where your coming from on this matter, it will not change my view that such things often tend to go too far and become overzealous (and i am quite well aware of the need to risk assess without the lecture on it). Im sure we could go tit for tat on this matter for quite some time, however this will never change either of our views. The problem with such matters is that i can accept others varying opinions without getting upon to my soap box and start patronising people that have a different point of view. The question that remains is can you???

Posted By dervan seriously Forbes I think you are one of those folks who cannot help but be patronising "All i'm trying to accomplish is for you to understand my stance on the matter" who said he could not understand where you are coming from? Seriously his opinion and approach has its merits even if is comes with more risk than you or your employer would be comfortable with perhaps.

Posted By Geoff Parkinson Is it Friday? :-/