Hi, Sorry, only just seen your post.  I'm not familiar with the Fellowes disk so can't comment on that but as a DSE Assessor in a large organisation, I will comment generally.

One thing that I will say is that the world of work has changed somwhat since the DSE regs were written as more organisations are embracing agile working.  I understand that the HSE are currently looking to update the guidence and I've noticed that bits and bobs have appeared on the website alluding to laptops,tablets etc.

In the organisation that I work for, we currently have a 'combo' of approaches - Self Assessment, where a user fill in the form, its discussed with the manager and controls are put in place.  If there are any issues that the manager is not familiar with, they can come to me and I will either advise them, go out and see the user or refer to occ health or physio.  I find that this system is reactive rather than proactive and it is also time consuming.  I often find that the manager /user has little knowledge because they have not been bothered to read the wealth of information that we put out about workplace assessment because its easier to phone me.  Although I respond appropriately, in reality there are very few situations that would have required my intervention and therefore, my time is not currently used by the organisation in the most constructve/productive way. I wouldn't recommend this for large numbers of users.

Other approach is to use web based system Cardinus - we looked at this some years ago but as the organisation was planning a more agile workforce, it was discounted as it did not embrace this concept however, there is a new version on the marker called Better Working which now does.  It profiles the user, delivers learning bespoke to that user, generates and assessment and produces an individual well being plan or the user.  In addition, it 'grades' the assessments as red, amber, green so you immediately know where personal attention is most needed.  The system also generates reports which can be used in performance frameworks.  I am currently trying to convince the service area that I support that theis system would offer a good return on investment as it is very cost effective due to economies of scale (numbers of users).   Another useful thing to note is that the system was co-written by Mat Birtles, ergonomist at the HSL who is also be working on the new guidence therefore, unlikley that anything in the system would contradict something that might be coming in the guidence or vice versa.

Reading this back, it looks like a bit of a 'plug' for Cardinus so would like to add that I have no connection with them, I just believe that in terms of DSE assessment and reporting, it is the best out there and if the service area that I support decide to embrace it, it will reduce the current amount of time I spend on DSE issues by over 80% and give better outcomes than currently acheived.

Thats all folks!

GF

Originally Posted by: Ian Bell2

The DSE Regs have long ago become outdated, in my opinion, given how use of such DSE quipment has developed with technological changes.

I think the DSE Regs should be repealed in total.

DSE is simply another type of work equipment, so could be covered under PUWER from the legal point of view. Extracts of the DSE regs could be issued as guidance in support of PUWER

I agree. The DSE regs are used very, very rarely in prosecutions. And DSE would fit neatly within PUWER.

Who knows? With the forthcoming deregulation economy I expect to see, it would not surprise me if DSE disappears. Along with the Head Protection Regs, and the requirements on thorough examination contained within LOLER, COSHH and whatever covers air receivers.

And I ain't complaining, either. Regulation should focus on risk, not paperwork.