Welcome Guest! The IOSH forums are a free resource to both members and non-members. Login or register to use them

Postings made by forum users are personal opinions. IOSH is not responsible for the content or accuracy of any of the information contained in forum postings. Please carefully consider any advice you receive.

Notification

Icon
Error

Options
Go to last post Go to first unread
Chrissie38  
#1 Posted : 05 August 2016 21:36:20(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Chrissie38

Hi, an employee sitting on chair, legs of chair collapsed underneath and she fell to floor. Soft tissue injury to her neck and shoulder. I was considering doing an audit of chairs as there are other faulty ones in use. What would you recommend? Are there any audit/checklist templates out there for chairs? 😀
Roundtuit  
#2 Posted : 05 August 2016 21:58:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Are you also going to weigh every employee and ensure they fit the manufacturers design usage specification? The NHS is spending a king's ransom upgrading stretchers, hospital beds and the like to counter obesity in the general population. And sorry absolutely no sympathy with comments stating faulty equipment is available for use - just hope their ambulance chaser doesn't read such public forums. You don't need an audit form just someone with some common sense to spot missing screws, split welds, broken seats and the authority to save your organisation litigation by removing broken items from use until they are repaired or scrapped.
Roundtuit  
#3 Posted : 05 August 2016 21:58:49(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Roundtuit

Are you also going to weigh every employee and ensure they fit the manufacturers design usage specification? The NHS is spending a king's ransom upgrading stretchers, hospital beds and the like to counter obesity in the general population. And sorry absolutely no sympathy with comments stating faulty equipment is available for use - just hope their ambulance chaser doesn't read such public forums. You don't need an audit form just someone with some common sense to spot missing screws, split welds, broken seats and the authority to save your organisation litigation by removing broken items from use until they are repaired or scrapped.
mssy  
#4 Posted : 06 August 2016 07:36:11(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
mssy

Roundtuit wrote:
You don't need an audit form just someone with some common sense to spot missing screws, split welds, broken seats .
I wouldn't go as far as that: We probably have 10,000+ chairs across the estate. I feel it would be disproportionate to employ staff to check every one, and do so on a regular basis. Most of our staff are sensible people. They can get themselves dressed to go to work every day, they use public transport without instructions and some are competent enough to make their own sandwiches. I feel they will have the skills to be able to check their own chairs without the need for a engineering degree and an x-ray machine So why not send an e-mail or issue comms say on an annual basis, reminding staff to check their chairs, perhaps issuing a short list of what they should look for. Different arrangements may need to apply for disabled or older staff who might not be able to physically check their chair, and for hot desking environments But a full audit? Surely that is way over the top unless you are suffering multiple failures for some reason
gerrysharpe  
#5 Posted : 06 August 2016 10:41:58(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
gerrysharpe

surely thats a job for maintenance to keep a check on?
Ian A-H  
#6 Posted : 07 August 2016 09:03:58(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Ian  A-H

I think the self-check option would be the most efficient across your site. Your attention could be focused on the same make/model/age of chairs as the one that collapsed.
Clark34486  
#7 Posted : 07 August 2016 11:08:08(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Clark34486

How do you 'audit' a chair? Pre-user check perhaps? My profession sometimes doesn't help itself.....
gerrysharpe  
#8 Posted : 07 August 2016 12:29:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
gerrysharpe

the HSE gives a general guideline on how to maintain seating at work http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg57.pdf Legislation relating to seating at work includes the: * Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974; * Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999; * Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992; * Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992; * Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992; * Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998; * Health and Safety (Consultation with Employees) Regulations 1996 Visually inspect the chair for the following: Step 1. Check to see if the chair wheels are in good condition and rolls as designed. Step 2. Check to see if the chair is sturdy when sitting in. Are all legs, arm rests, back rest, and seat cushion in good working order? Check to ensure the chair seat does not lean or shift from side to side. Step 3. Turn the chair upside down and visually inspect the points where the chair frame mounts to the seat and back rest Step 4. Check all screws or fasteners to ensure they are all in place and tight. Step 5. Check closely for any stress cracks in the plastic or metal. Inspect for signs of any metal fatigue or distorted metal. Step 6. Check the number of legs on rolling chairs. Chairs should have five legs. If you find any chairs that fail this inspection, remove the chair from service and place a red tag or sign that states "Do Not Use - UNSAFE FOR USE"
Chrissie38  
#9 Posted : 07 August 2016 15:19:29(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Chrissie38

Thanks for all the useful replies😀
Dawson36394  
#10 Posted : 08 August 2016 12:49:17(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
Dawson36394

Hi, We had a similar problem at a number of sites with chairs collapsing under customers (number of claims occurred). As a result we added a check to the annual safety self inspection and issued a couple of bulletins covering details of the accident with a reminder to staff to remove from use anything off the shop floor / back office that was broken. It seemed to work effectively. Hope this helps.
MadiB  
#11 Posted : 08 August 2016 15:53:46(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
MadiB

Quite a few years ago we invested in some very stylish (and expensive) chrome and leather board room chairs that were cantilevered and therefore bounced as a consequence. Cue staff bouncing absent-mindedly through meetings. They also bent or cracked and we would send them off for a weld repair. They looked awful as when repaired they were at a different height! It took one collapsing during a meeting with a supplier for me to finally be able to scrap them. Our site manager then took it upon himself to send them to the local auction house to recoup the cost!!!!!!
Victor Meldrew  
#12 Posted : 09 August 2016 12:54:18(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Victor Meldrew

OMG - I don't believe it...... next it will be pencils or pencil sharpeners
Invictus  
#13 Posted : 09 August 2016 12:59:39(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus

Victor Meldrew wrote:
OMG - I don't believe it...... next it will be pencils or pencil sharpeners
Believe it or not this is the type of thing asked for.
walker  
#14 Posted : 09 August 2016 13:02:31(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
walker

Victor Meldrew wrote:
OMG - I don't believe it...... next it will be pencils or pencil sharpeners
You are well out of it ! Trip to The Boat soon???
walker  
#15 Posted : 09 August 2016 13:09:42(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
walker

Invictus wrote:
Victor Meldrew wrote:
OMG - I don't believe it...... next it will be pencils or pencil sharpeners
Believe it or not this is the type of thing asked for.
Whilst folks are falling off roofs, down lift shafts and being buried by collapsed excavations more frequently than ever.
Invictus  
#16 Posted : 09 August 2016 13:18:05(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus

walker wrote:
Invictus wrote:
Victor Meldrew wrote:
OMG - I don't believe it...... next it will be pencils or pencil sharpeners
Believe it or not this is the type of thing asked for.
Whilst folks are falling off roofs, down lift shafts and being buried by collapsed excavations more frequently than ever.
But falls from chairs has reduced so that balances it out and don't forget some are high chairs.
Victor Meldrew  
#17 Posted : 10 August 2016 19:28:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Victor Meldrew

walker wrote:
Victor Meldrew wrote:
OMG - I don't believe it...... next it will be pencils or pencil sharpeners
You are well out of it ! Trip to The Boat soon???
Seems a gud idea mate - PM me so we can arrange something from around Oct onwards - busy with hols, golf etc in the meantime 😉 Too right I'm best out of it - been doing some voluntary work but going to drop that & Chartered Membership/Status soon...... got to go, best audit my golf trolley first though - hold on a minute I haven't got a check sheet or a 'badge' to prove competency.
peter gotch  
#18 Posted : 11 August 2016 13:05:21(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
peter gotch

Hi Victor Have you seen the consultation document put out by defra about the proposed H&S (Golf Courses) Regulations 2017 due to come into force on 1.4.2017? Weekly inspection of golf trolley by a competent person, and statutory examination at least once every 14 months.
Victor Meldrew  
#19 Posted : 11 August 2016 13:47:59(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Victor Meldrew

peter gotch wrote:
Hi Victor Have you seen the consultation document put out by defra about the proposed H&S (Golf Courses) Regulations 2017 due to come into force on 1.4.2017? Weekly inspection of golf trolley by a competent person, and statutory examination at least once every 14 months.
Couldn't give a monkeys Peter..... I can manage my life & equipment without regulations.... after all, regulations don't guarantee safety - look at the mobile phone legislation. Besides, I'm more interested in maintaining a good swing & playing the 19th hole.
chris42  
#20 Posted : 11 August 2016 14:15:15(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42

Just watch out for the hazard on the 19th hole ( bar stool / chair) I hear they can be dangerous. Sadly before coming into H&S I knew of someone that made a claim for such an accident as in the OP. The company did come around checking chairs. People misuse them and lean back on the rear legs and they are not designed for that. Welds / joints break and down goes some innocent person. If you were going to do it no checklist just a visual once over. Will you number them so you know which you have done ?? :0)
stuie  
#21 Posted : 12 August 2016 09:11:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stuie

Maybe you could code them up with letters and numbers - I dont want the one with a big 'D1' on it :-) might be worse still if it had '1D' on it?? S
RayRapp  
#22 Posted : 12 August 2016 09:20:28(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
RayRapp

Apparently they conducted an audit of deck chairs on the Titanic...
chris42  
#23 Posted : 12 August 2016 09:28:26(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42

It was just a matter of time :0) They say If you sit in one spot long enough, every H&S joke / saying passes by. Or something like that.
MadiB  
#24 Posted : 12 August 2016 10:58:25(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
MadiB

Speaking of chairs - our IT department has a problem type definition of PICNIC = Problem In Chair Not In Computer Also "ID ten T" = ID10T
stuie  
#25 Posted : 12 August 2016 12:46:47(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
stuie

Apparently our IT guys say that all of my computer problems relate to the interface between the keyboard and chair - i dont know what they mean??? :-)
chris42  
#26 Posted : 12 August 2016 13:26:04(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42

We have external IT support, so I would counter with :- Problem In System Support Taking Available Knowledge Externally I love them really, great source of amusement. :o)
nic168  
#27 Posted : 15 August 2016 11:59:24(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
nic168

Mssy, I Know that a lot of people find this inherently amusing, in the overall scheme of safety stuff falls from chairs low on the list of things likely to harm you. But it does happen and can lead to some serious damage. I am aware of two , possibly three civil claims against my organisation for "chair related incidents". Chair collapses happen as does misuse. The two I know most about were due to damage to the support which would not have been apparent on casual visual inspection. One was supposed to be 24 hour operator use chair, but on investigation was not. The other was subject to excess load. Not sure than a audit would achieve anything, but maybe encouraging a visual check as part of housekeeping will help weed out any obviously dodgy ones. A few years ago we had a spate of report of people being violently hurled forward by their new chairs, narrowly missing the keyboard. This was not in my remit so I never really worked out what was going on there, but it generated a lot of activity and interest in the subject. If anyone has any suggestions ( other than our furniture hates us) please share, Annic
Invictus  
#28 Posted : 15 August 2016 12:18:52(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
Invictus

Violently hurled forward' Imagine the accident report Mr so and so was catapulted through the window when he was getting up to go to lunch.
chris42  
#29 Posted : 15 August 2016 12:28:44(UTC)
Rank: Super forum user
chris42

Not a problem, as he was on lunch at the time so not working ! And therefore would not be RIDDOR :0) Has some joker unbolted the top of the seat and turned it around relative to the base frame, so instead of reclining it tilts forwards ? Or they were recycled out of an Austin martin db5 formally owned by a Mr Bond.
hserc  
#30 Posted : 01 September 2016 09:36:38(UTC)
Rank: Forum user
hserc

Its been sometime since the original post but... In our company, we recently (2016) had a fatality from someone falling off an office chair. the person was an IT worker setting up laptops at a workstation in a computer room. What happened was that the person reached over and down to pick up the next laptop from a pile placed on the floor beside the chair. As they leaned over, the chair's wheels slipped on the floor surface and the chair overbalanced. (It was an DSE chair nad was in perfectly good condition). he person hit their head on the way down and was knocked unconscious. They were taken to hospital and, tragically, died shortly thereafter. Our investigation proved that it was the wheels that were the problem. These were solid plastic type castors and they had simply lost their grip on the solid floor surface of the computer room. it was was then we all had a bit of a Doh! moment, that you can get chairs with castors that are either solid plastic, or castors that have rubber tyres or wheels fitted, for extra grip on smooth surfaces. Cue a very swift check on chairs and castors everywhere. One of the responders in an earlier post made an off-hand comment about such processes for inspecting chairs, along the lines of (whilst people are still being killed and injured by falling from height and collapsing earthworks etc., etc.) the implication being that checking chairs may not be as important in their overall view of the world. That person should remember that in a call center, I don't have any working at height tasks and no earthworks at all. But we do have offices with over 300 chairs. And, tragically, one fatality.
Users browsing this topic
Guest (2)
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.