Hi all, Would just like to gage opinion on what you think the biggest impact the DSE regs can have on managers. Thanks

My view is they are a problem for managers because they tend to approached in a mechanistic and rather pointless way (fill in a checklist). It all seems very bureaucratic and time consuming for little obvious benefit. Predominantly biggest issue is when people complain of a problem, or want/need a specific bit of kit. The manager is often stumped by the effort of sorting this out. More forms to fill in etc. If there is a hint that the problem is medical (aches & pains, 'back condition') there is often limited support - any SA support may feel it is beyond them (medical), OH say 'assess the workstation' (safety) who then pass it back to managers, and it all becomes circular and difficult. It's hard to argue that "I don't know anything about it" when managers have both a body, and a DSE workstation - the two main components involved. And it's hard to be motivated about the regs, as the consequences of not bothering are almost invisible, so high effort, low benefit.

one thing I would either get rid off or servely modify if i could. Who had mobiles, laptops, blacberry's or even a computer at home in 1992. Not to mention young peole coming into the workforce who have already got 10yrs of pc and gadget use behind them. How can it be proved that WRLD were caused at work when we spend our lives outside of work on them??

I recall reading a few weeks ago of work in EU Directive land to combine DSE and other musculoskeletal risk within a new or heavily modified Directive, essentially doing away with DSE Regs. (Huzzah!) That euro work seems to be on the back burner at the moment. I've ranted before on this forum about the disproportionate focus on DSE. Biggest (disproportionate) impact DSE Regs might have is a pandering to employees with "I want one of those" mentality. New or different chairs, keyboards, mice etc. and the poor old company driver gets......the vehicle he was given.

OMG, I've read this twice and it's a perfect example of a safety and regulatory document that spends an inordinate amount of time and verbiage saying just about nothing of any value what so ever. This whole piece says, we’ve thought about it, couldn’t get agreement and now we’ve delayed it. What a waste of time and effort, including mine in reading and venting my spleen here. (And now yours for having read this drivel.) Saints preserve us.