DSE Risk Assessments

[lovelldr]

Hi guys.

 

Just looking for a little bit of advice. At our school, they are now going H & S mad, and they have now told me, that I am to do the DSE risk assessments... Not really anything to do with an IT Technician, and definitely not in the job description (that they are usually so quick to point out when I say things that I am doing and they don't want me to do them...)

 

But anyway, they put on a "DSE Assessor" course, which is basically an online set of notes etc, and then tell me I need to go around and do the risk assessments. Well, from everything I can see, it is up to each individual to do their own assessment, and then I look at the assessment, and need to check that they are correct... But, my next question is, who do we assess?

 

According to the information I've been given, a DSE User is class as someone who "either spends prolonged spells of more than one hour on most working days, or; for shorter periods totalling two or more hours on most working days".

 

So, imo, an assessment needs to be carried out on all office staff, head, deputy & assistant (as head and deputy are non-teaching, and assistant is only 50%), myself and that's about it. But, then I'm sure the teachers would argue that they probably spend up to 2 hours at a computer. Would use of Projectors/Interactive Screens count as DSE use? As I see it, they're not spending time look at it continuously. But, then there's also time spent planning on the computer at home etc... So, should I both assessing teachers, or not?

 

Look forward to your guys feedback

[Achandler]

If your teachers have a desktop that is in 1 location and doesn't more then assess it, as it is esseientially a workstation. If they are using a laptop, firstly it will probably fail DSE without all sorts of adjsutments but they are also moveable and tey won't ever put them in the same place everytime and if they moved to another room with the laptop it would be different again. Near impossible to assess.

 

I would do all desktops that staff could use, basically monitor stands that move, a wrist rest, and a chair that moves covers most things.

[lovelldr]

If your teachers have a desktop that is in 1 location and doesn't more then assess it, as it is esseientially a workstation. If they are using a laptop, firstly it will probably fail DSE without all sorts of adjsutments but they are also moveable and tey won't ever put them in the same place everytime and if they moved to another room with the laptop it would be different again. Near impossible to assess.

 

I would do all desktops that staff could use, basically monitor stands that move, a wrist rest, and a chair that moves covers most things.

 

Thanks for your input, but, isn't each area assessment, individual to each user... This is where is gets more complicated

[notalot]

When I was trained for DSE assessments, I was told that if a person uses a desktop computer for 2 hours or more each day then they should have an assessment done every year, I don't believe that an interactive screen or whiteboard counts as part of a DSE assessment as it would automatically fail several sections of the assessment.

 

I spend the time popping around everyone as our staff couldn't use the self assessment form, so I just read off and clarify any questions that they have.

 

With our laptop users we offer PC's in the staff rooms for long stints and recommend that they use them, these computers have been set up by us to meet the requirements.

 

Equipment used at home doesn't come under the schools responsibility, but it wouldn't hurt to cover some basic ergonomics in a CPD session at some point.

[Achandler]

It is to each individual but if individuals move desks 5 times a day, you can't possible do every person for every area. What you need to do is assess the area and make it as best as possible for the situation, so educating users how to move the screen to the right height, move the chairs to the correct height while also giving them equipment that can be moved to the right height. This shows that consideration has been made for staff who move around even though they may not even sit still for 2 hours! I have seen teachers using old plastic chairs that can't even be height adjusted, these are the issues that need addressing for staff that move.

 

With staff who are permanently in the same place then the desk should be set up for that user in that desk, including foot rests and everything if appropiate.

[Joanne]

At our place every 'office worker' - ie/ me, secratary, head, assistant head got sent a document to fill out and send back to the bursar (who was doing the risk assessments).

 

Then each staff member did a risk assessment of their room and subject. I did one on school ICT along with the coord.

 

Man, there must have been hundreds of the things flying about. We had a county provided form to put the assessments into.

 

Give me a shout if you want me to send you any of the docs over as reference.

[GeekyPete]

To echo what has already been said, consult your union. Make sure you are not being set up as a scape goat.

 

On a more practical note, I would take the following approach;

 

Assess every one with a dedicated PC an Monitor.

 

For the roaming users take a two pronged attack. Assess each workstation. Make sure it meets all the environmental requirements, Lighting, temp etc. Then make sure it meets the technical requirements in a way that each user can adjust it to suit, Adjustable seating, Height adjustable monitor, space on the desk for left and right handed mouse users etc...

 

Then you'll need 15 minutes of a whole school CPD session to explain that it's their responsibility to make the personal adjustments and what adjustments to make, but you'll be on hand to answer any questions. Health and safety is everyone's responsibility not just the H&S advisors. If you have buy-in from SLT you could even add it to the AUP that they do their own checks before using the computer, a bit like when you climb in to the drivers seat of a car. You set the Mirror seat etc. This is no different.

 

You will find that Whiteboards don't really have the same issues. You wouldn't do a DSE for a Cinema style projection. But these are not cinema screens when used interactively. Strictly they are DSE and they are covered. You will need to consider different risks, trip hazards for example. The height of the board is important can the users reach the board without excessive and repeated bending and stretching? With that said you could add a recommendation that they are not to be used for more than an hour a day interactively as a control measure if they fail.

 

This is similar to the get out clause that you'll probably end up using for laptops and tablets. "Should not be used for extended periods of time". Yes Tablets are also covered and Phones too for that matter. Laptops shouldn't be used for extended periods of time without a proper keyboard and Laptop riser or alternative Monitor. And they shouldn't be used on your lap! Tablets and phones just shouldn't be used... (again for extended periods of time I suppose) The user has no real keyboard, The screen should be at arms length to reduce eye strain, so the screen is too small. People hunch over them giving bad posture. Having to hold the device can cause stain too. The only mitigation for this is that they are used occasionally and for short periods. If you are doing video editing or green screen, by all means capture the images on an iPad and do some basic editing. But anything extensive need to be done on a desktop.

 

Not sure if that's a help or not but Good luck with it.

 

(for reference I have a CIEH level 3 Health and safety in the Workplaces Certificate)