I keep getting asked by our head office (office staff ) whether I can come to site and carry out VDU assessments on individuals and write them up, it is very labourious and I'm of the opinion they should be completing their own VDU assessments with the relevant guidance documents however I'm getting accused of having sloping shoulders!

It's a self assessment tool so why should a HSE manager be embroiled in carrying them out?

Its frustrating me, or am I being non helpful?

Depends on the organisation. In my previous employer we were all on one compact site and the opportunity to go and show your face was useful. Everybody was supposed to do a self-assessment and if any issues arose me or someone else from H&S would follow up. We had our own budget for DSE adjustments including chairs, foot rests etc.    

In my current role the site is more sprawling and (this is key) there is no central DSE budget and  it is up to local line managers to apply what we advise in DSE terms. This results in far fewer visits etc.

Before you let go of responsibilities for DSE you need to be certain that the locals know what they are doing. Managers must understand their responsibilities and employees understand the limits of what they can get.   

Complete their own then review the responses - anything unusual discussed with the employee for clarification & then their manager (for any spend)

Originally Posted by: Roundtuit

Complete their own then review the responses - anything unusual discussed with the employee for clarification & then their manager (for any spend)

My system is similar. If they don't send the self-assessment back (takes a few minutes online), I don't issue eye test vouchers, approve orders for wrist rests/footrests/lumbar supports & all the other things that they ask for but probably wouldn't need if they'd followed the advice & filled the form in...

Its about time the DSE Regs were finally repealed and consigned to history.

The whole way electroinc devices have impacted modern life and where and how such devices are used, renders the DSE Regs meaningless.

At best they should be an appendix/schedule to PUWER.

I agree with Ian Bell2. When as a member of our local safety group (since defunct) we had a speaker on this topic I was selected as the guinea pig for showing how to set up the arrangement. When he placed the screen at the height he suggested as being correct according to the guidance  I had to point out that this was wrong for me as I was having difficulty reading the screen. I wear varifocal lenses and the correct position for me was much lower so that I was looking at the screen through the correct part of my spectacles. I also found that the 'approved' height for the seating also caused me problems as it was not the right height for me when using the keyboard. Sometimes I wonder whether those who write the guidance documents have ever had to deal with real workplace conditions. In my particular field I often find that the official guidance (e.g. ACoP) often does not fit well with reality.

Chris