NEWS
‘Make do and
mend’ culture is
“compromising
workstation safety”
says research
By Darryl Brunt
More than three quarters of UK employers
(80 per cent) are guilty of letting homemade
workstation solutions jeopardise the safety
and comfort of employees, according to a
new European survey.
T
he survey, commissioned by Fellowes found that despite over
half of companies (62 per cent) acknowledging that as employers
they have a duty to influence the physical and mental health of
their staff, the research has revealed that trained staff are less likely
to undertake workstation assessments than non-trained staff, with
31 per cent of employees left in charge of conducting their own selfassessments as opposed to trained health and safety officers or HR
managers.
Additionally, despite half of all companies acknowledging that it is the
responsibility of line managers to provide a fit for purpose workstation
environment, it is clear from the research that work demands, physical
health and the working environment are not being correctly addressed,
as 22 per cent of employees raised concerns that they experience
physical discomfort at their desk on a daily basis.
The research throws into question how equipped, skilled or trained
those responsible for completing workstation assessments are in UK
workplaces and how