Posted By Crim Some advice please? The staff at a betting shop use a PC behind the counter, when dealing with customers and this consists of a screen with separate keyboard, adjustable chair etc. On face value it looks as if it should conform with the Regs. Should I expect this equipment to be set up as per the DSE Regs or could there be some flexibility? The staff are seated and if they have the screen directly in front they cannot see the customer? If they move the screen to the side to enable them to see the customer they have to turn their head to see the screen. Thanks.

Posted By Kieran J Duignan Crim Your question 'could there be some flexibility?' appears to mean is it ok not to prevent injury to employees. For the DSE Regs are as flexible as physically possible subject to that constraint. For example, they don't specify whether an employee sits, stands or kneels or varies between these basic postural stances. One way to improve control of risks of injury is to educate employees in sources of musculoskeletal injury, which are very diverse; another is to introduce habits of behavioural safety, so that work performance is balanced by rewards for safe behaviour.

Posted By Kieran J Duignan Sounds like a good 'missionary' opportunity, Crim. One thing to bear in mind about the DSE Regs that's often overlooked is that their scope includes stress at work as well as musculo-skeletal disorders (MSDs) and eye injuries and malaise. As you can imagine, irate punters as well as hard-pressed managers can contribute to stress levels of employees. Maybe you could offer training for stress management to help them in this respect? As research at the Robens Institute of Health Ergonomics, commissioned by the HSE, has shown there's a quite strong correlation between MSDs and stress. One of the things you might offer to do is short, seated relaxation exercises that can be done almost invisibly. I recall being asked to counsel an employee with over 10 years' experience in a betting shop, who experienced severe and prolonged trauma after a conflict with his boss arising from his alleged error in (allegedly) overpaying a punter.