Not something that has come up for me to date. The requirement to assess the workstation would still lie with the employer I would think. Just found this article on the web that may or may not help: http://www.seton.co.uk/l...d-to-get-a-grip-on-byod/

OK, I'll ask. BYOD?

This is very murky from the legal point of view. It was assumed back when the 1992 DSE regs were introduced, that any devices would be supplied by the employer. Now it seems that some employers are ok with BYOD, and some seem to be expecting staff to supplier their own kit. This leads to some concerns with employees buying the cheapest devices that they can get away with and often these might not be suitable for the tasks that there are being asked to do. I would not like to write up a ten-page report on a tablet. I guess most of the time people are being sensible- a tablet being used to store/retrieve pieces of information, mobile phones for sending images etc but we don’t really know what is going on and the old regs do not help. Furthermore, since the changes to legislation in relation to the right to sue for breach of statutory duty came into force employees can no longer go after employers who expect them to use inappropriate kit. I cannot imagine that the HSE will be that bothered with this; they have bigger fish to fry like keeping themselves in existence.

Yes, Alan is right, sorry about that :-) Thanks for all the responses so far; seems I'm right to be unsure of my ground here, John

When HSE were devising the 1992 DSE Regulations some 25 years ago I guess that those involved were just responding to issues posed for workpeople sat using what were then conventional non-portable computers with screens and keyboards on desks. As it's unlikely that they envisaged the arrival and widespread use of tablets, smart phones and other portable devices with small screens and tiny buttons or pointer devices as input systems, trying to apply the 1992 Regulations to such devices seems totally futile. In addition to the points raised by Kurdziel at #6, I guess that BYOD raises other issues. As well as data security problems, I suspect that such issues include electrical & fire safety problems because of the tendency for some users to buy cheap counterfeit chargers and power units for their devices either via the internet or dodgy shops without any consideration as to their compatibility or quality of manufacture. In recent years there have been various media reports (including items on BBC TV's "Watchdog" and "Fake Britain" programmes) of fires involving chargers and power units, and also of explosions arising through short-circuiting of counterfeit batteries and/or counterfeit devices. Graham B p.s. The appearance of unfamiliar abbreviations and acronyms on this forum certainly keep me on my toes through having to do internet delving to try and find out what they mean. When I first saw this thread I wondered if BYOD stood for "Bring your own drinks" as a variant of BYOB "Bring your own booze" (or beer) which used to be a standard abbreviation on party invitations in my younger days! :-) p.p.s. By coincidence the CAPTCHA security image which appears as I'm about to post this message is bAnNh. Could this be interpreted as suggesting that employers should resist relying on BYOD?!

Prolonged use of BYOD devices (inc. hand-held) are captured by the DSE Regs and the parent Directive. The onus remains on the employer to balance the benefits of new technology with potential ergonomic and other risks. Reference to PUWER etc. is correct in that same context. Many employers permit employees to purchase their own tools. Employer duties on safety, fitness for purpose, noise, vibration etc. remain.

Agree with the previous posts in relation to PUWER and DSE, however, there is also the possibility that insurance cover is affected - previous insurance policies have stipulated that cover is for company owned and provided equipment. My current employer (an American Parent) has also stipulated that any personal mobile phone number becomes the property of the company from within its IT policy - (paraphrasing a little!) "phone usage and emails on company business remain company property even after the employee has left the company". They've used anti-virus, commercial confidentiality and other reasons for this. Pete

regardless of BYOD one thing I had to change in the company (consultant generated) DSE questionnaire was "is the screen at you resting eye level" as it no longer applies to modern laptop use for transient workers - line of sight achieved by tilting the laptop screen backwards as opposed to any specific docking station or stand to lift it to the height of the users eyes.

Absolutely correct. In addition to this comment, I have (real) risks to deal with within our organisation than having to worry about a DSE risk assessment on a person using a smart phone or tablet that they own and are using for work purposes.

Disappointing to see IOSH members so readily discounting the potential for chronic health effects arising from poor posture or RSI?