Dear All
I’ve had a question from a new head of department and I wondered if there was anything out there to add to what I’ve got.

She said in her previous company she was required to sign a document saying she would not work on her laptop at home for more than two hours at a time. (Most of our senior people have lap tops so they can work at different sites.)
We’re talking about people who work on their laptops at home voluntarily, not ‘home workers’.
I’m also thinking of those who take their laptops to the café to work, (so they can drink, can’t at their desks) rather than use the docking station that all our laptop owners' have at the desks.

Given the trouble we go to about DSE assessments and the like this is something I’ve been worrying about when I’ve nothing else to keep me awake.

One policy I’ve heard is that if you work voluntarily at home you’re required to provide at your own expense a laptop stand, keyboard and mouse. It’s your decision to work at home not ours so you have to provide the wherewithal to be safe. If you don’t you’ll not be allowed to work from home! The check seems to be a signature from the person concerned and a countersignature from their line manager.
If you’re working on a laptop without these safety precautions then you must stop and take a break (undetermined) every two hours.

My senior management seem pretty relaxed about this but I’m thinking people will be complaining about sore backs, necks, shoulders and wrists pretty soon and then the questions will start.

Does anyone out there in the Health and Safe-osphere have anything they could share with me?

Thanks

Graham

Here’s a question why are you supplying laptops to people who don’t need to work from home/away from the office?
If they don’t need to work away from the office, then they don’t get a laptop so the issue of taking the work home does not apply.

We have 3 categories:-
1) Those whose contract of employment includes home working--we provide the "kit" and ensure the DSE Assessment is done etc

2) Users who have been provided with Laptops due to a business need--foir example myself--I do not travel offsite on business, but with a company laptop can access the conmpany LAN more easily without need for an RSA Token--this category work from home or offsite occasionally

3) Users who use their own computers, can be their own desktops or laptops and work from home occasionally

For categories 2 & 3, we have a "checklist" they have to complete after reading the guidance ( which is simple) and have it available during office inspections.

There is no need to overcomplicate matters.

Even if they signed a pise of paper, you cannot police it!

Here's a radical approach:
Give people good advice on healthy working with IT.
Offer them a range of kit to help achieve a comfortable posture.
Emphasise your company requirement to report any aches / pains, or other problems ASAP.
Remind staff frequently to report any aches & pains etc.
Remind staff frequently to report any aches & pains etc.
Repeat as necessary.
Let them get on with it.

React to any report of aches, pains etc. immediately, and use energy saved from trying to treat everyone as if they may one day have a problem, to deal with the minority who do actually have one.

Ray,

A bit unreasonable IMHO. Its a big issue when folks end up with life changing injuries due to poor posture and repetitive work.

In 20 years time I predict the nation will be full of folks crippled with damaged hands & thumbs due to "devices"; the "at work" element is quite small however. And maybe there is not much we can do about it (other than what Aud suggests).

Apologies if my frank comment has offended anyone.

I am, however, fully aware of the issues with carpal tunnel syndrome, WRULDS, etc. Working from home is a luxury for most which others for various reasons cannot do. I think there is a need to put DSE issues into perspective - just my thoughts.

Ray

Just to open this one up a little! I travel more and more these days by train. I see many other travellers using laptops, sometimes for several hours, in somewhat cramped conditions. What do we do about these people. Do we ban laptop use on trains?

Chris

From another angle, I know there were several reports in the last 12 months about the concern that people were not switching off fro work when they got home (not a problem for me I hasten to add) and continued to answer to emails etc when they should be enjoying family time. This article was in the Guardian yesterday highlighting the problem: http://www.theguardian.c...work-productivity-health

OK so maybe not H&S related and more of an HR concern but still something that may be worth noting. Some companies have even started switching off their servers at home time to dissuade employees from accessing emails etc.