{"id":1171,"date":"2020-08-05T18:06:08","date_gmt":"2020-08-05T17:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.duelltraining.co.uk\/?p=1171"},"modified":"2025-10-28T12:46:31","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T12:46:31","slug":"homeworking-posture-dse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/influence360training.co.uk\/index.php\/2020\/08\/05\/homeworking-posture-dse\/","title":{"rendered":"Homeworking, Posture and DSE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.4.9″ background_color=”#435664″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.5.1″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”||-24px|||”]

Homeworking, Posture & DSE<\/h1>\n

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Is DSE enough for an Employers\u2019 Duty of Care?<\/h5>\n

Probably not but my own view is individuals (employees) should be looking after themselves and take responsibility just as much as Employers, especially whilst they are homeworking.\u00a0 The benefits are endless and maybe if you did think about your posture you\u2019d get less of a lecture from me during training sessions. Win-Win!\u00a0 I can\u2019t help think with the on going pandemic of Covid-19, poor posture is just like another pandemic but this one has been around much longer.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Home working and posture.<\/h5>\n

For those of us that work in an office you will be aware of the hazards faced when sitting for long periods of time.\u00a0 Employers will know of the issues and buy suitable chairs, pads to cushion your wrist when using a mouse and perhaps a step placed under the table for leg adjustment.\u00a0 But you\u2019re homeworking and you can do what you want right?\u00a0 Yes you can but surely you would want to look after yourself and your Employer still has a duty of care to you.\u00a0 And how many businesses haven\u2019t thought about following DSE (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations? Be warned if attending a session on Manual Handling or Display Screen Equipment then at some point I will go into \u201clecture mode.\u201d\u00a0 Highlighting to everyone the importance of being conscious about your posture.\u00a0 I would say approximately 50% of people on my courses will tell me about aches and pains they experience, with 90% admitting they do not think about their posture at all never mind during working hours.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If we\u2019re not thinking about it, what are the consequences?\u00a0<\/h5>\n

Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD\u2019s) are one of the main reasons why people take sickness leave. I guess in evolutionary terms, as humans, we still can\u2019t find a comfortable sitting position for several hours each day without a consequence.\u00a0\u00a0MSD\u2019s commonly include repetitive strain injury, lower back pain, aches around the shoulders and neck etc and have long term effects.\u00a0 During training sessions I do get passionate about how we have known about these issues for a very long time and yet most of us suffer from MSD\u2019s at some point.<\/p>\n

For Employers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/h5>\n

Employers can\u2019t stop their staff from ageing but they can take practical steps as outlined in the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992.\u00a0 If you work with a computer, laptop, tablet and even a mobile phone (any device really) as part of your daily work activities for any length of time then staff must be assessed for the risks I have already mentioned.\u00a0 Personally this is a no brainer. Costs to a business for sick leave compared to some careful thought when purchasing adjustable chairs, foot pedals, suitable lighting etc, will be worth the investment.\u00a0 It\u2019s about ergonomics \u2013 just fit the workstation to suit the person.\u00a0 This is where DSE training can help.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

What about staff working from home?<\/h5>\n

Even if you are working at home with DSE for long periods of time an employer still has a duty of care. It is recommended in these situations to allow staff to take the training (a requirement of DSE Regulation). Employers can then use a DSE risk assessment that focusses on the individual which we can supply after successful completion of training. Use this for home working too. This will identify any areas that need addressing \u2013 remember this should be done for each member of staff so ask the employee to complete it themselves.\u00a0 Employers can\u2019t be held totally responsible for the behaviour of their staff when they are working at home but they must make any reasonable adjustments where practicable.<\/p>\n