Rank: New forum user 
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I am trying to conduct a DSE assessment on a new employee who is in a wheelchair. He has stated that he happy with the set up however I feel that the desk is too high as his elbows are below the desk top. Can I use the DSE regulations to get the desk lower or is there other guidance for disabled users that I must comply with?
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Rank: Super forum user
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MichelleS,
IMO, if he has stated that he is happy with the set up, why be further concerned?
Look at other DSE users, you'll see lots of poor set up / practice, however that's how they like to work, even after your assessment and good advice!
Simon
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Rank: Forum user
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I agree with Simon, if the user is happy with the set up then just document it on the assessment. You can put your suggestions to him but if he is happy with the set up then leave him. You can not force someone to change their set up just to fall in line with the regulations....you can only recommend......
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Rank: Super forum user
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And will he still be happy with the set up if he starts to suffer from "Work Related Upper Limb Disorders"?
Without seeing the set up It is difficult to make a definite response - I will accept minor variations if users are comfortable, but I would have thought that a standard desk would not suit a wheel char user or be compliant with display screen regs, Reg 11 Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations or be DDA (sorry old terminology I know) surly a lower desk is not an unreasonable alteration, which would make the person more comfortable and productive as well as safer in there work. I also wonder if as a new employee in the current financial climate that they just don't want to be seen as a pest.
Good luck however you proceed.
Brian
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with Brian, I can easily see how he may not want to be seen as asking for "special treatment". It's not a case of giving him advice but of providing a suitable workstation for him, this is clearly the employer's responsibility! It seems to me the DSE regs cover this in just the same way they cover suitability of a workstation for a short person.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Brian / Kate, re-assessment could take place at any time!
If a user sits further away from the screen than the guidance says, would you make them sit closer?
If a user looks as if they could use a foot rest, would you make them use one?
If a user is sitting lower than shown in the guidance, would you make them sit higher? Even if they're happy!
Can't say I would. After all, they are the user!
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Being a non wheelchair user it is really difficult to advise a wheelchair user because we do not fully understand what it is like to have to use the wheelchair.
There are many reasons for having to use the wheelchair and you just have to understand the user will need to be comfortable and not necessarily conform to Regulations.
The equality Act prevents us from prying into individuals disability and if they want to keep things to themselves them let them.
I think you should satisfy the user and let him/her make some decisions. Don't forget the PEEP and evacuation arrangements.
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Rank: Super forum user
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SP, user behaviour in not correctly using the correctly specified equipment provided to them is an entirely different matter from not providing a suitable workstation for them in the first place.
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Rank: Super forum user
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This is a specialist area so get specialist advice etc e.g. Contact your local disability group/s as they should be well versed and people such as the 'return to work' group via the employment/pensions people
Please listen to what has already been said in this posting as people are only OK until they want something or have discovered a problem and we cannot let people; even if they sign a disclaimer, do their own thing!
[I know disclaimers are not worth the paper that they are written on!]
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I agree with the 'accept that he is happy' views above but would make a diary note to go back in month and see how he is doing. By then he may be more comfortable about requesting changes. I tend to leave new started alone (for DSE) for a week or two. This allows them time to sort out their workstation and build up courage to say if something is wrong
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Rank: Super forum user 
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There is an alarming amount of poor advice on this post. The employer has a duty of care which is not diminished or abrogated when an employee shrugs their shoulders and says they're fine.
I suggest an adjustable table height desk would be ideal, also ensuring in conjunction with the individual that there is no conflict with chair armrests (in the same way as it affects correct posture for everyone else using office chairs with arms).
Would I point out, coach and correct poor posture or technique adopted by any employee?
Of course I would - that's called supervision, a basic tenet of the Health and Safety at Work Act!!
As the one decent bit of advice states here, if you're stuck then seek specialist advice. Local charitable organisations or the employability network (who may fork out for some of the costs of that desk).
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Rank: Super forum user
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I think we should all revisit the legislation sometimes; The schedule to The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 says in Section 1(c) “ the inherent characteristics of a given task make compliance with those requirements appropriate as respects the workstation concerned.” , which means ( I think) that you only need to apply the requirements of the Schedule if a problem has been identified in your risk assessment. This is that terrible phrase ‘common sense’- you do not impose solutions where the user feels that they are not “appropriate”. Of course you must monitor the situation, and if problems do develop than you must react.
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Rank: Forum user
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ron hunter wrote:There is an alarming amount of poor advice on this post. The employer has a duty of care which is not diminished or abrogated when an employee shrugs their shoulders and says they're fine.
Well said Ron,
if the scenario was an employee prefering to use a ladder in unsuitable circumstances as a workplace rather than a safe working platform would we just allow that person to shrug his shoulders and say, it's OK I'm fine with this?
The risk of WRULDS may be infinitely less in magnitude than falling off a ladder but the principle is the same, i.e. there is a risk and (if it is a significant risk) the employer must eliminate it or reduce it.
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Rank: Super forum user
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As I said without seeing the actual situation It is difficult to make a full assessment. I an not an ergonomist but like lots of other people on this forum I have some limited knowledge of ergonomics and I clearly remember that just because you feel ok in a chair etc does not mean you are adopting the best posture. I had a car a few years ago that I thought had the best seat every, right up to the time my back gave up the ghost and I had to have 3 months Physio!
If someone was happy to work in a nose protection zone without ear defenders would that be OK? or use a chain saw without protective trousers etc would that be OK?
I know that these two examples are a little more extreme that a VDU, but I have met people with WRULD/RSI that are unable to do simple tasks such as tie up there shoe laces because of badly set up work stations.
Yes what the user thinks/feels is part of the equation but its not the total answer, and not an excuse to ignore legal requirements.
Brian
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Rank: Super forum user
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I could also argue that the duty is an increased one in this instance. Presumably the only means of independent motion available to this employee is via upper body and limbs - yet some suggest we do nothing against potential chronic harm is caused!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Can I ask those of you advocating the perfect set up as per the Regs. - do you all have a perfect set up?
If not why suggest such a set up here?
MichelleS - does everyone else in the office have the perfect set up? If not why try to enforce it on this person. You will have to be careful not to discriminate against the disabled person if you demand he do something that you do not demand of others.
As I have already said involve him in the assessment, it will be in writing, decide what's best and both sign the form. Just because he is disabled does not mean he can't make a decision.
I also suggest a regular review as disibility changes from time to time.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Chris
I for one am not arguing a perfect set up - I doubt that that ever exists for anyone, what I am saying is don't ignore potential significant issues just because someone says they are happy.
Brian
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Rank: Forum user
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quote=MichelleS]I am trying to conduct a DSE assessment on a new employee who is in a wheelchair. He has stated that he happy with the set up however I feel that the desk is too high as his elbows are below the desk top. Can I use the DSE regulations to get the desk lower or is there other guidance for disabled users that I must comply with?
Hi Michele,
Whilst everyone else argues about the right/wrong thing to do, I would point you in the direction of Access to Work: http://www.direct.gov.uk...AndProgrammes/DG_4000347
I have never used them myself but colleagues speak very highly of their services. However, the service may have been victim of recent government spending cuts.
As far as I am concerned you need to do the best that you can do for this person as far as set up goes but remember that this will be severely limited by the fact they are in a wheelchair. I doubt its as adjustable as a DSE compliant chair. Given the chair is normally the piece of equipment that we spend most time looking at during an assessment, in my mind if someone is in a wheelchair you are throwing the DSE rule book out the window. If you feel the desk needs to be lowered then try it for a month and see how it goes, if the user doesn't get on with it change it back.
We need to bear in the mind the health benefits (physical/psychological) of this person being in work and that they have an employer who cares.
Good luck
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