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#1 Posted : 13 May 2009 12:44:00(UTC)
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Posted By Anita Bathgate
Hi All,

This feels like a daft question but seemed to have hit a stumbling block. I have been asked by a member of staff if he can bring his own chair into work as not now used at home. There are no health/medical reasons for this. Just more comfortable than what he is using now!
Obviously the 'fit for purpose' issue needs to be addressed but my concern is that if it were to be used by another member of staff and an accident occurred- liability comes into play. Could anyone clarify responsibilities ? or whether it just isn't viable?
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#2 Posted : 13 May 2009 12:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By Sharon
Personally I would stick to the office chairs.

I suggest a DSE risk assessment is also carried out on the person, and if a new chair is needed then I suggest the company purchases one.
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#3 Posted : 13 May 2009 14:51:00(UTC)
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Posted By Ian Blenkharn
Does furniture for domestic use not have a different fire rating that is less than and insufficient for use in the commercial environment?
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#4 Posted : 13 May 2009 15:08:00(UTC)
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Posted By Kevin Brown
. and obviously the chair from home will satisfy all the performance criteria expected from a DSE User's chair?
I've just conducted a straw poll here and asked if there's anyone here who hasn't got a more comfortable chair at home. (I won't be giving odds on the likely result. I suggest a swift DSE assessment (if appropriate) and a full and frank discussion about the differences between home and work).
Must go, my LaY Z Boy awaits and that Ipod won't switch itself on ...
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#5 Posted : 13 May 2009 18:17:00(UTC)
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Posted By Nitab
Ok, think that answers it! No
Thanks guys
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#6 Posted : 14 May 2009 07:54:00(UTC)
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Posted By Brian Hagyard
Anita

There's some good advice to your thread, but are we in danger of using Health and Safety as an excuse to ban something without checking all the facts?

"Domestic furniture does not meet fire standards!"

Is it domestic furniture? When I set up a small office in my home I bought my office chair from a commercial office store so the fire standards were the same.

"It wont meet DSE standards"

Why not? again my own chair at home adjusts in all the right places.

I also wonder if every chair in your workplace is identical? There not in mine as we have replaced chairs as needed and so now have a mismatch, obviously they all conform to fire regs, VDU etc.

"Responsibility for an accident"

Potentially yours yes, but would that be any different on any other chair in the office?
Is there some specific reason why this chair would be so different?

Unfortunately any office chair can break, I have know it happen in quite often in "hot desking" offices where the chairs are frequently adjusted to fit the user. An adjustable chair needs maintenance just like any other piece of equipment that has moving parts.

So you may have an argument as to why the chair is not suitable for use in the office, but please be clear as to why and don't just say it because of "Elf & Safety"

Brian
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