The human body was not designed to sit statically at a desk for over six hours a day. An increasing number of us are developing back problems, aches and pains, neck and shoulder tension as a direct result of working long hours at a desk or workstation that has not been properly setup to suit our individual needs.
Under legal regulations set by the Government’s health and safety standards, a DSE assessment is compulsory for all employees within any company. Did you know this? Do you work in an office and have you ever had a DSE assessment? It should have been provided to you within the first few months of you starting work at your current company.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations were put into action in 1993, to ensure that individuals who interact with computers on a daily basis (and let’s face it, that’s most of us!) are educated and supported with the correct equipment when interacting with their workstation. A DSE assessment should be carried out when a new workstation is set up, when a new user starts work, or when a substantial change is made to an existing workstation (or the way it is used) and if you are a home worker.
A DSE assessment will aim to ensure that an individual interacting with their workstation is doing so in a manner that reduces the risk of developing common musculoskeletal problems such as neck and back pain, or upper limb disorders such as RSI or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Musculoskeletal problems are often exacerbated by poor posture, incorrect use of equipment and lack of education on how to interact with equipment. Many companies are working reactively with their employees. And by this we mean that an employee will develop a musculoskeletal disorder, and only then will a DSE assessment be provided to assess the possible causes and to correct them.
But what if companies were to be more pro-active, ensuring that they are following the regulations and that their employees are assessed and set up correctly to avoid such issues? Wouldn’t this save the employer money from days of sick-leave, and increase their employee’s productivity? A study conducted in 2007 has shown that if the correct set-up and education surrounding the workstation is provided from the beginning of employment, then employers can reduce sickness absence by more than 30% and can increase productivity by 58%. This makes perfect business sense.
As Britain’s office workers, we should try to be more aware of musculoskeletal disorders and be pro-active in our attemps to reduce them to keep us healthy.
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