Follow the guidance on the screen
We recently attended a major health and safety exhibition, at which we ran into numerous companies offering online workstation assessment software. We decided to find if they’re as good as they claim to be. What did we find out?
The best thing since sliced bread
“If you buy our software, all of your problems associated with workstation assessments will simply disappear”. A quote from a sales rep we ran into at a recent safety exhibition. The software package he was trying to sell us, he claims, is a solution to manage workstation assessments and to comply with the law cheaply and with minimal effort. Of course being sceptics, we decided to see if the product is up to scratch. For a change we’ve been pleasantly surprised (See The next step for the results). Although it might not offer quite the total solution the rep quoted, his company and other’s offering similar products, do actually offer a good solution to complying with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (DSE).So where do the facts get blurred and the sales pitch begin?
What does it actually do?
The software solutions are designed to train people in workstation ergonomics, “postural best practice” and other aspects of workstation layout and working practices. These include:
• chair and lumbar support adjustment
• how to sit correctly in a chair, including how to get the most from the support it offers
• positioning of the screen, including height and distance from the operator
• guidance on taking breaks and reducing any risks of eye strain.
The strengths. Where this software has an advantage over questionnaires for example, is that the guidance on the screen actually shows pictorially or in a video how to set a chair up, how to sit in it, where your eye line should be etc. A questionnaire at best can give written instructions that are harder to follow. Another strength is the record keeping options. You’ll also be clearly able to identify who’s done it and who hasn’t.
The weaknesses. It isn’t quite the “total” solution the sales rep claims. It still relies on the individual sitting at their desk to do the assessment properly. It can just be “clicked through” and not actually followed. And according to your electronic history it’ll show an assessment has been completed.
Tip. If you do go for this software, it’ll be in your interest to do a few spot checks just to make sure it hasn’t just been “clicked through”. If you spot someone who has their monitor far too high or their mouse and keyboard spread all over their desk, it’ll probably be worth asking questions.
Does it cover all of the legislation?
Not quite. You can’t just let your staff do their own assessments and then file them away without looking at them. The final stage of these packages involves a risk assessment, which might identify some remedial works to be completed. We’ve completed a number of dummy assessments and found that it doesn’t suggest unreasonable adjustments to a workstation. This will mean that it shouldn’t create a long wish list of items, such as monitor stands and footrests. It will, however, highlight problems. So be warned: don’t expect the software to remove the need for some minor workstation amendments.
The next step
For the results of our survey into the types of software packages available and guidance on the associated costs and potential benefits visit http://healthandsafety.indicator.co.uk (HS 04.19.07)
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