Workstation Assessment

[DeskAssessment]

I am querying who is responsible for completing a workstation assessment?

I have been in my current position for a couple of years and have requested this on several occasions. It was also recommended 2 years ago by OH, due to my physical disabilities. We hot desk.

I have ongoing musculoskeletal problems which are getting worse despite ongoing treatment (they are aware of this) and have recently returned from an extended period of absence.

Since March we are wfh full time and it would be useful to know my set up is correct.

I have been advised today that I should have completed an assessment for the office desks myself following guidance online and should do the same for home. Is this correct?

Any HR advice would be appreciated.

That’s an internal policy question. It’s not particularly unusual to ask employees to do it themselves, and that certainly makes sense for staff who are working at home.

What’s the concern?

We’ve been asked to do ours ourselves using an online portal that asks pre programmed questions set by work H&S officer. At the end it gets automatically sent to our H&S officer.

Thanks for responses.

No problem whilst working fully at home during Covid 19 however I’m no expert in ergonomics. I have already done the best I can in relation to purchasing a proper office desk, chair & document holder but I’m worried the set up is not right and this is aggravating my symptoms. My GP has also queried this.

At work there is no allocated desk it’s literally wherever you can find. The chairs are without armrests and are not supportive. I have no adaptations or equipment eg footrest, document holder or split keyboard.

My manager and I were both under the impression someone trained in H&S at work would physically do an assessment at work.

Pre-programmed questions and someone overseeing it would be helpful. I will ask HR to forward the relevant policy.

We usually do our own, even when in the office. I think we can ask the H&S person if we are not sure. Think manager mentioned it being nearly time to do them again, so I expect it to be self-assessment again. The questionnaire we have is lengthy and detailed, though.

Thanks for all responses - I will ask tomorrow if there are any questionnaires to complete or to guide us.

I work for a large corporate and we would get this outsourced to an OHS agency.

We would also have our equipment proved and funded by the company and even when Hot decking you would leave a notice on your desk asking that any adaptations were left at that workspace such as specialist chair, keyboard, monitor riser etc.

Sorry for crap typing, cat sat on my chest!

We have a form to fill in that your manager signs and then if need be they buy equipment, get assessors in etc

We’ve always done our own. Lots of guidance on how to do it. A specialist gets called in if particular issues are raised. Large government agency. We’ve had an opportunity to buy office chairs for home.