Health & Safety Podcast: Manual Handling

Welcome to our monthly podcast with Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Senior Health and Safety Consultant at AfterAthena Limited. In this episode, we continue our theme of musculoskeletal back injuries and discuss display screen equipment (DSE) and ergonomics. We'll highlight the regulations that require employers to undertake suitable risk assessments of workstations and provide relevant information and training to DSE users. We'll also discuss the risks associated with working from home and provide tips on how employees can help themselves.

Transcript

Hello, I am Neil Hughes-Hutchings, Senior Health and Safety Consultant at AfterAthena Limited. I am back for another edition of my podcast. If you are unfamiliar with the format of my podcasts and blogs then, as a reminder, their purpose is to act as a starter topic for further discussion within your organisation, to assist with improving compliance, and to allow workers to understand the specific topic being discussed.  

To continue my theme of musculoskeletal back injuries we shall look at display screen equipment and ergonomics.

In 2022/23 according to HSE statistics, 1.8 million workers experienced new or longstanding ill health. Some 473,000 workers (27% of this total) reported suffering from a work-related musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) - resulting in the loss of 6.6 million working days, with on average 13.9 days being lost per case. The Labour Force Survey (LFS) in 2022/23 highlighted that 41% of disorders were back related, whilst a further 41% affected the upper limbs or neck, with just 17% affecting the lower limbs. The main work factors cited as causing work-related musculoskeletal disorders were manual handling, working in awkward or tiring positions, and keyboard or repetitive work. Other factors identified included workplace accidents and stress at work.

Firstly, let me define what a DSE user is. This can be described as: ‘Workers who regularly use DSE as a significant part of their normal work, daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more’. The DSE regulations would apply to these workers.

In summary, the DSE Regulations require employers to:

• Undertake suitable and sufficient risk assessments of workstations
• Ensure workstations meet the minimum requirements
• Plan work activities so they include breaks away from DSE
• Provide eye and eyesight tests on request and spectacles if required (for DSE use only)
• Provide relevant information and training

DSE Workstation Risk Assessments

The key risk factors that need to be assessed for each DSE user are:

·        Display screens

·        Keyboards

·        Mouse, trackball, etc

·        Software suitability

·        Furniture – chair and desk

·        Working environment – lighting, temperature, space and noise

·        Work activities

·        Any specific worker vulnerabilities

Control methods or risk reduction techniques must be used to:

·        Provide a clear statement to workers that the risk of DSE health related problems is taken seriously at all levels of the organisation

·        Monitor the control measures and review them to ensure ongoing effectiveness

·        Ensure all workers are aware of the risks from using DSE and the likely effects

·        Provide information on the legal framework surrounding use of DSE and the employer/employee duties under them

·        Provide support following symptoms or diagnosis

Working from Home

As an employer you have the same health and safety responsibilities for home workers as for any other workers. When workers are home based on a long-term arrangement, the risks attached to DSE work must be controlled. Temporary home workers could be provided with a basic DSE assessment for their home working environment.

Where possible, temporary homeworkers should be provided with specialised DSE equipment. 

Employers should ensure that home workers can achieve a comfortable, sustainable posture while working with DSE, and that any equipment provided is safe and suitable for use.

The HSE advises that homeworkers may not necessarily need office-type furniture or equipment at home to achieve a good posture. Equally, a worker’s own furniture or equipment may not be suitable or sufficient. The DSE assessments should be used to help the employer decide what is needed for their workers’ specific situations and circumstances.

Employers should also ask their workers to visually check for any damage to sockets, plugs or leads used in connection with their work, and give advice on the hazards of overloaded extension cables.

Employers are only responsible for electrical equipment that they have provided to their workers, but should make sure it is being used in a safe environment.

How can employees help themselves?

·        Adjust your chair and computer screen to the most comfortable position for your work

·        Ensure you have sufficient work space for your documents and other equipment

·        You may find a document holder helps prevent awkward neck and eye movements

·        Arrange your desk and screen to avoid glare and reflections

·        Ensure there is adequate space under your desk to move your legs freely

·        Avoid excess pressure from the edge of the seat on the backs of your legs – you may find a foot rest beneficial

·        Try to keep your wrists straight when keying

·        Keep your mouse within easy reach, so it can be used with the wrist straight, and support your forearm on the desk

·        Sit upright and do not slouch at your desk

·        Change your posture as often as you can but avoid repeated stretching to reach things you need

·        Take regular screen breaks by changing your work activities, i.e. to do filing or photocopying. Frequent short breaks are better than fewer long ones

Once again, I thank you for listening, and hope you can all join me for next month’s instalment. Bye for now