IOSH Approved DSE Assessor Training Course

Course: IOSH Approved DSE Assessor Training Course

Location: Inverness, Scotland

Date: September, 2023

Simon Walker,  Occupational Health and Hygiene Manager at Stork Ltd organised  Fit4Work to deliver their IOSH Approved DSE Assessor Training Course at their Head Office in Inverness.

Fourteen trainees attended this interactive and informative course.

End of course assessment (theory and practical papers) being completed.

Below are just some of the topic areas covered on the course:

  • Who is a DSE User
  • What constitutes a workstation (Word Search Activity)
  • Types of Injuries which are caused by working at the workstation
  • Statistics of injuries working at the workstation Employers and Employees responsibilities
  • Legislation (Health and Safety DSE
  • Anatomy (to appreciate the effects of a slumped posture on the spine, including the cervical and lumbar region and shoulder joint impingement.
  • Correct sitting posture (Slouch over Correct exercise which requires trainees participation)
  • Specific injuries (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Disc prolapse, Tennis Elblow, De Quervains Tendinitis)
  • Pregnancy
  • Employees with additional needs due to disability
  • Correct workstation set up including chair adjustments (Practical demonstration)
  • Which equipment is best suited to different employee needs eg. footrest, document holder, ergonomic mouse, keyboard without numbers to the right, height adjustable desk, voice recognition software
  • End of course assessment (Theory and Practical Paper)

During the day several questions were raised and discussed and therefore created a further learning experience for all concerned.

  • How to address employees who hot desk on a regular basis?
  • How to carryout workstation risk assessments for employees who work from home?
  • How often should pregnant ladies be assessed?
  • Is there a recognised number of assessors to a number of employees?
  • Why do you recommend office chairs without armrest?

Several different make and models of chairs which are  currently being used by the company were examined by Angela Hinton the Director of Fit4Work  this was to establish their suitability.

For instance, did the backrest move forwards enough to support the correct alignment of the spine of the person using it.  Was the seat pan long enough to support their lower limbs.  Did the chair’s armrest lower sufficiently enough in order for the chair to be pushed under the desk?