I manage a very large office complex in the UK. One of the outputs of a workstation assessment is to raise the desks. Across the whole site we use very large enclosed v-shaped desks which are arranged in clusters, which means that they are heavy and often difficult to move horizontally because of space restrictions. We currently use a manual handling-intensive and awkward process to lift the desks to put the raiser heighteners in from underneath. I am looking for a mechanical/hydraulic/electric solution that can safely raise the desks while the raiser heighteners are put in place. We've looked at a couple of things that for one reason or another are unsuitable. Does anyone have experience of solving a similar problem? Ideally something which can also be used for shifting desks around too (although the raising is the primary task in hand).

Thackery A good case for better purchasing procedures and adjustable desks in future plans. I think a good risk analysis of the consequences of this past decision could be very beneficial. On the lifting question I would be thinking around some form of 1000kg pallett truck with a stool arrangement of suitable height and strength to sit on the forks. You will be doing a static lift and many engineering firms could design and construct such equipment - the loading will surely not exceed 200kg which is very little in real terms where a small lift height only is actually required

Unless your furniture in veeeeeeeery old, I find it difficult to believe that all of the desks need raising. There should only be one abnormally lanky person (Circusboy, we call him) who would ever need this type of adjustment. For the rest of us, the height adjustment of the chair is sufficient.