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#1 Posted : 09 April 2009 15:12:00(UTC)
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Posted By Steve E
In the next 3 weeks the company i work for will be releasing around 90 micro tablet PC's to our technicians.

I understand the DSE requirements for assessment but have only ever conducted assessments surounding desk top PC's.

Does anyone have any guidance of how to assess this kit or any template assessment forms they use?

Kind Regards

Steve
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#2 Posted : 09 April 2009 15:15:00(UTC)
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Posted By Bob Youel
laptops such as these can bring with them lots of problems - address the various ergonomic studies via the web and/or use the HSE site
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#3 Posted : 09 April 2009 15:25:00(UTC)
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Posted By joolz040770
what type of business? how many hours in the office or does mobile working apply?



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#4 Posted : 09 April 2009 15:30:00(UTC)
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Posted By Steve E
The technicians will be using them for a minimum of an hour a day upto but not often 8 hours.

There is no "office time" as they are efffectively a man in a van
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#5 Posted : 09 April 2009 15:59:00(UTC)
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Posted By joolz040770
Ahhhhh I see. Ok - when it's mobile it creates more problems.

What I have had to do in this situation - mainly because the machines are used at different locations whilst out and about - is provide the user with basic guidelines on how the machine operates along with a training session (if required) when the machine is handed over.

Then I created a DSE Self Assessment form which the user can send to me at any time highlighting a concern. The concern is then addressed as appropriate. The forms are available to download from the intranet or collect from reception and regular announcements are sent to staff reminding them to complete the forms.

I've also cascaded responsibility down to line manager level to ensure that at 1:1's and team meetings (etc) the user is being asked whether the equipment is suitable and can highlight any concerns they may have. 1:1's are recorded and held on file.

Sounds a lot but honestly doesn't take long to set up and it works very well.



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#6 Posted : 09 April 2009 16:49:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Steve, I don't believe the DSE Regs are intended to apply to micro tablet PCs.
As for "in use" time, I would doubt that would exceed more than an hour a day (perhaps useful to compare and contrast with "trigger time" and HAVS risks). IF your people had to spend that amount of time on a micro-keyboard with a stylus then the apps. surely need to be looked at again?
My main worry would be the potential for this kind of kit to interfere with safe driving - in much the same way as mobile 'phones, tablets and satnavs can.
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#7 Posted : 10 April 2009 09:23:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Merchant
The latest edition of L26 (see HSE books website) has a section about PDAs and portable small-screen devices, both in terms of if DSER applies (yes it does) and how to assess the things in use, given there's no "workstation", unpredictable lighting, etc.

It's also important to consider if a wholesale move to PDAs runs into the disability discrimination act, as relates to workers with impaired eyesight or dexterity; and how having an expensive bit of kit "on show" is covered by insurance etc. (vehicle thefts and muggings, depending on where your workers are going).
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#8 Posted : 10 April 2009 23:39:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ron Hunter
If anyone has to use this type of kit for an hour or more intensively (as per App 3 of L26 Dave) then surely there is something fundamentally wrong with the work routine. Fretting about the application or otherwise of the DSER should not be the focus.
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#9 Posted : 11 April 2009 08:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Dave Merchant
Ron - it depends on what the kit is - I agree that using a cellphone for an hour of word processing isn't particularly sensible, but the OP refers to "tablet PCs" - these are often reasonably-large screens (6 inches plus), and electronics engineers regularly use them for in-field diagnostics, often for most of their working day.
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