Rank: Forum user 
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Hello all,
I kindly request your advice and recommendation on how you'd approach the following.
We have a domestic cleaner who has had a minnor keyhole operation approx (5 weeks ago) on the shoulder. The individuals day to day responsibilities predominatally require her to hoover the communal areas of a large building. Works P/T 3 hours a day 5 days a week.
Currently uses a "Henry" type hoover and has requested this be changed to an upright all in one hoover.
HR have recommended an ergonomic assessment. I myself am not to keen on this as i don't feel they have the necessary experience and would recommend she be seen by the occupational health professionals who have a medical background.
I can't understand how changing the current type of hoover would assist, as she'd be required to push the weight of an all in one upright hoover, as oppose to the current hoover, which only requires her to push the length of the hoover handle.
How would you approach this? who should she be seen by, ergonomic or Occy health?
Any help would be grateful. Cheers
Abs
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Rank: Forum user
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Having worked part time as a cleaner whilst at university I have a fair bit of experience with vacuum cleaners! The all in one cleaner would certainly be heavier and more cumbersome than a 'Henry' style vacuum cleaner so I'm wondering why this has been requested. Did her doctor include any suggestions of change to equipment in a 'fit note'?
Sound to me like someone from OH should meet the cleaner and discuss this.
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Rank: Forum user
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Hi Marcus,
Thanks for coming back to me. No the doctor has not recommended anything. Hence my recommendation that the staff concerned is assessed by a occupational health professional who has medical expertise as oppose to an ergonmoist who is more specialised in dealing with DSE workstation issues!!!
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Rank: Forum user
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Why not simply ask the person why they think an upright would be better? They may have one at home which they find easier to use. Some background info is always useful.
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Rank: Super forum user
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If the rigid tube for the 'Henry' type cleaner is too short, the cleaner is probably stooping and reaching forward when using it. Is this the problem?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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As Jane suggests there may well be a need to bend and reach forward, as well as using two hands, to hold the hose/tube? Maybe the thought behind an upright cleaner is that it can be operated by standing in a more upright position and by using one hand - maybe the one that has is not affected by the op on the shoulder? I do speak from experience in the use of a vacuum which incidentally seems very noisy - must remember to take the noise meter home and see just how noisy it is!!!!
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Rank: Guest
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Abs
Your observation, 'an ergonmoist who is more specialised in dealing with DSE workstation issues!!!' is 100% the opposite of reality. Nobody can qualify professionally as an ergonomist on the basis of your assertion.
In fact, there are free reports on the HSE website of research reports by ergonomists at the Robens Institute in which the method of risk assessment known as QED is illustrated precisely with the example of a cleaner.
Common risks of manual cleaning are actually about postural strain, repetitive movements and force. A member of the IEHF and/or a Eur Erg can provide a valid risk assessment - but perhaps your employer would be advised to allow your HR colleague to provide a brief rather than risk allowing you to so make further elementary errors?
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