DSE Checklist - University of Birmingham



Name Staff number

Department Contact number

DSE Assessment Checklist

|A The Chair |Yes No |Solutions |

|A.1. Is your chair stable, of adequate size and| |If no, please contact your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator to discuss your chair |

|supportive? | | |

|A.2 Does your chair adjust in height? | |If no a new chair may be required, please contact your Health & Safety Co-ordinator |

|A.3 Have you adjusted the chair height? | |Adjust the chair height to allow you to sit with elbows at approximately 90° and approximately 1” above the |

| | |desk when touching the G and H keys |

|A.4 After adjustment, and whilst sitting right | |If you cannot sit with your feet flat on the floor you may need a footrest, please contact your local Health |

|back in the chair, can you sit with your feet | |& Safety Co-ordinator |

|flat on the floor | | |

|A.5 Does the backrest adjust in both height and| |If no please contact your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator to discuss your chair requirements |

|tilt? | | |

|A.6 Have you adjusted the backrest to fit you? | |Adjust backrest height so that your lower back is in contact with the chair back. Adjust the tilt to allow |

| | |support in the lower back without pushing you forward or forcing you to lean back |

|A.7 Does your chair have arms? | |If no please go to Section B, “The Desk” |

|A.8. If yes do the arms prevent you from easily| |If the arms adjust, lower them to allow you to pull the chair forward in closer proximity to the desk. If |

|sitting close to the desk | |the arms do not adjust a different chair may be required or the chair arms removed |

| | | |

|Please go to the next section | | |

|B. The Desk |Yes No |Solutions |

|B.1 Does the work surface have enough space to | |Is your desk large enough to position the computer and accessories comfortably for your use |

|fit your computer, screen, keyboard, mouse | |Can you move files or printer to elsewhere in the office |

|and/or copy/document holder | |Can you move the processor to allow more space but you will need to consider the screen height if it sits on |

| | |the processor |

|B.2 Do you have adequate leg room underneath | |Keep the area under the desk clear of unnecessary equipment and personal items |

|the work surface to allow a comfortable working| | |

|position | | |

|B.3 Is the floor under your desk free from | | |

|obstructions | | |

|B.4 Is the workstation and equipment arranged | | |

|so that frequently used items are located | | |

|within your easy reach, to minimise excessive | | |

|stretching and twisting | | |

| | | |

|B.2 Is your work screen based only | |If no please go to B4 |

| | | |

|B.3 Is the screen and keyboard directly in | |To ensure you are not twisting your neck or upper back position the screen directly in front of you |

|front of you while sitting at the desk? | | |

| | | |

|B.4 Is your work paper-based, for example, copy| |If no please go to B7 |

|typing? | | |

| | | |

|B.5 Do you have a copy/document holder? | |If no please contact your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator to discuss your requirements |

| | | |

|B.6 Is the copy/document holder positioned | |If no, try to position the copy or document holder in front of you to reduce neck and back twisting |

|directly in front of you to read from? | | |

| | |Move equipment not being used to improve position of computer accessories (such as keyboard, mouse) |

|B.7 Is your work mixed, i.e., copy typing and | | |

|screen based typing? | | |

| | | |

|B.8 Is the screen and copy or document holder | |If no try and rearrange your desk to ensure that both the screen and copy/document holder can be placed |

|directly in front of you | |directly in front of you to view without twisting the neck or upper back. A copy holder should be positioned|

| | |at the same height and distance from your eyes as the screen. An inline document holder should be positioned|

| | |between the monitor and keyboard. This will avoid unnecessary frequent head movements and changes of focal |

| | |length to your vision which has been linked with tired/sore eyes |

|B.9 Is there adequate space behind chairs and | |Discuss with your local line manager / supervisor or Health & Safety Co-ordinator alternative desk |

|between desks to enable easy access to the | |configurations to improve access |

|workstation | | |

|B.10 Are data and electrical cables positioned | |Discuss with your Health & Safety Co-ordinator options to remove a tripping hazard, such as alternative |

|to prevent a tripping hazard | |cabling or provision of additional network and power supply |

|B.11 Are there any other hazards in the | |If so, discuss with your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator |

|immediate work area | | |

|C. The Keyboard |Yes No |Solutions |

|C.1 Is the keyboard separate from the computer | |If no and your computer is used for standard secretarial or clerical tasks or is used for extended periods of|

|and screen | |time please contact your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator for these additional computer peripherals |

|C.2 Are you comfortable when typing and are | |Is your seat adjusted to the correct height – please see section A |

|your wrists straight? | |Try tilting your keyboard to improve the position of your wrists |

| | | |

|C.3 Do you have enough space to rest your hands| |Consider changing your equipment round, for example, moving your processor to the side to give you more room |

|in front of the keyboard when not typing? | |for your keyboard. |

| | | |

|C.4 Can you read the keys on the keyboard | |If no, are the letters and numbers worn away by use if so your keyboard may need replacing. Secondly, try |

| | |cleaning the keys on the keyboard |

| | |Consider direct sunlight from windows – if this is preventing the keys from being seen, consider blinds or |

| | |alternative position of the furniture to eliminate this |

| | | |

|C.5 Can you touch type? | |Consider training needs to reduce risk of wrist/arm problems due to poor technique |

Please go to next section

|D. The Display Screen | | |

|D.1 Can you read the characters on the Display | |If no, is the screen clean, if not obtain cleaning equipment |

|screen? | |If the screen is clean can you change the font size or increase the contrast between the characters and the |

| | |background? |

|D.2 Is the screen of a suitable size for the | |If not, discuss this with your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator. If using a laptop request a docking |

|tasks undertaken | |station and separate monitor, keyboard and mouse for your main base. If using a laptop in alternative |

| | |locations consider using portable equivalents of the keyboard and mouse and a laptop stand to raise the |

| | |monitor height |

|D.3 Is the screen at a distance that allows you| |If not, move the screen to a distance that does allow you to view it comfortably or alter font and icon size |

|to view it comfortably | |in the display menu |

|D.3 Does the screen flicker | |If yes, please report this to IT support |

| | | |

|D.4 Does the screen swivel and tilt? | |If no, please contact IT support or your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator |

|D.5 Have you adjusted the swivel and tilt? | |If no, try adjusting the swivel or tilt mechanism to allow you to sit with a comfortable head and neck |

| | |position. If necessary try this again until you are comfortable. |

| | | |

|D.6 Is the screen affected by reflections on | |If, yes try to find the source of the reflections and manoeuvre the screen to try and reduce the reflections |

|the screen surface from interior lights | |while maintaining a good working posture |

| | | |

|D.7 Is the screen affected by reflections on | |If yes, is your screen positioned with a window behind it or behind you, if possible move the screen to a |

|the screen surface from windows | |position where windows are at your side. |

| | |Do you have adequate window covering, for example blinds or curtains, if not contact your local Health & |

| | |Safety Co-ordinator. |

| | |Are the blinds in good working order and accessible for you to adjust when necessary? If not report this to |

| | |your manager for consideration of maintenance or replacement of window coverings if necessary |

|D.8 Is the brightness / contrast on the screen | | |

|easily adjusted and satisfactory | | |

Please go to next section

|E. The Mouse (or alternative inputting devices)|Yes No |Solutions |

|E.1 Do you use a mouse to control the computer | |If no, please go to section F |

|E.2 Is the mouse within easy reach, for example| |If no, try to rearrange your desk to ensure the mouse and mouse mat can be used without over reaching or |

|close to the keyboard | |unnecessary twisting or bending of the wrist |

| | | |

|E.3 When you are using the mouse, can you use | |If no, try the mouse and mouse mat in different positions to reduce any bending in the wrist. If you cannot |

|it without bending the wrist | |reduce bending of the wrist please contact your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator. |

|E.4 Does the mouse move freely when used | |Check that you are using the mouse on an appropriate surface and that if wired that the cable has sufficient |

| | |play for you to move the mouse |

|E.5 Does the mouse pointer move smoothly across| |Adjust mouse controls from Control Panel and confirm that mouse is working properly (Control Panel / mouse / |

|the screen in use | |hardware) |

| | | |

|E.6 Do you use mouse driven software such as | |If no, please go to section F |

|CAD? | | |

| | | |

|E.7 Is the mouse positioned directly in front | |If no and the mouse is your main input device, consider placing the mouse directly in front of you to ensure |

|of you | |that it is in the zone of convenient reach and usability |

| | | |

|E.8 Do you use any other input devices, for | |If no, please go to section F |

|example, microphone, touch screen, laptop keys | | |

|etc | | |

| | | |

|E.9 Have you sited the input devices to ensure | |If no, try changing the workplace around or if using a laptop use a separate mouse and if required contact |

|good posture and easy reach | |your local Health & Safety Co-ordinator for advice. |

|F. Software | | |

|F.1 Are you using the correct software for the | |If no, contact your supervisor to discuss your software requirements |

|tasks, for example, Word for word processing, | | |

|Excel for data handling etc | | |

| | | |

|F.2 Do you think you have had adequate training| |If no, contact your supervisor to discuss your training requirements |

|on the software? | | |

Please go to next section

|G. User Information | Yes No |Solutions |

|G.1 Do you have an existing health problem that| | |

|is causing you difficulty with the use of DSE? | |If yes, contact Occupational Health for advice, or request a referral from your Line Manager |

|G.2 Are you, or have you been issued with any | | |

|specialist equipment for use with DSE? | | |

|G.3 Do you experience any physical or visual | | |

|discomfort when: | | |

|a) working at your workstation or computer? | | |

|b) using your mouse at work? | | |

|c) in the evening when you get home from work? | |If yes and your workstation is set-up optimally please inform you line manager and request a referral to |

| | |Occupational Health |

|G.4 If the answer to the previous question is | | |

|‘yes’, have you consulted your GP about your | | |

|symptoms? | | |

|G.5 Do you know how to apply for an eyesight | |If no, speak to your line manager for pre-approval for expenses, then contact an optician of your choice and |

|test? | |complete an expenses form with your receipt |

|G.6 Have you had an eyesight test since | | |

|beginning to use DSE? | |If no, speak to your line manager and then arrange to have one |

|G.7 Have you had an eyesight test within the | |If no, arrange to have one, having confirmed this with your line manager |

|last two years? | | |

|G.8 On average how many hours do you normally | | |

|spend working on DSE at work: | | |

| | | |

|a) less than two hours per day? | | |

|b) more than two hours continuous use per day? | | |

|c) intermittent use for more than 2 / 3 hours | | |

|per day? | | |

|d) more than 4 / 5 hours cumulative but | | |

|intermittent use per day? | | |

|G.9 | | |

|a) Are you able to organise your activity so | | |

|that you can vary your work tasks to include | | |

|periods of non-DSE work? | |If no, speak to your line manager or Health & Safety Co-ordinator |

|b) Are you able to avoid long periods of | | |

|sitting in one position performing the same | | |

|activities with your hands? | | |

| | |If no, speak to your line manager or Health & Safety Co-ordinator |

|G.10 Are work breaks and / or changes of | | |

|activity taken before the onset of visual or | | |

|postural fatigue? | |If no, schedule more frequent short breaks in your working day |

|G.11 On average, how many hours do you normally| | |

|spend working on a DSE away from work: | | |

|a) not at all | | |

|b) less than 2 hours per day | | |

|c) more than 2 hours continuous use per day? | | |

|d) more than 2 / 3 hours cumulative but | | |

|intermittent use per day. Please state how | | |

|long. | | |

Thank you for completing the checklist.

Please discuss any of your needs with your line manager or Health and Safety Co-ordinator

Revised February 2015

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