DSE Assessments: compliance with statutory law

[name removed] made this Freedom of Information request to West Dunbartonshire Council This request has been closed to new correspondence. Contact us if you think it should be reopened.

The request was partially successful.

Dear West Dunbartonshire Council,

On an unknown date [name removed] submitted a DSE Employee Questionnaire (circa late Feb / early March 2014).
The questionnaire was for employees in the Office of the Future at West Dunbartonshire Council offices at Garshake.
The questionnaire had a graphic in it alongside text which stated: 'Can the user comfortably reach all the equipment and papers they need to use'

Under FOISA
Question 1: who created the questionnaire and put in a graphic of a kneeling person?
Question 2: when was the questionnaire created as such i.e. with the graphic?
Question 3: why was the questionnaire designed as such i.e. with the kneeling graphic?
Question 4: please confirm the 'WDC questionnaire' is basically the HSE DSE questionnaire titled Display screen equipment (DSE) workstation checklist available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm - last accessed 29/06/2016.
Question 5: please confirm if the purpose of the questionnaire is - 'This checklist can be used by employers who need to comply with the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. It can be used as an aid to risk assessment and to help comply with the Schedule to the Regulations. It lists risk factors in six areas, with 'yes'/'no' tick boxes: keyboards, mouse and trackball, display screens, software, furniture and work environment. It lists issues to consider and gives space to record planned action'?
Question 6: please provide details on how many occasions the DSE Employee Questionnaire was used?
Question 7: please confirm the completed questionnaires were sent to the Corporate H&S Mailbox in Adobe PDF format?
Question 8: please confirm that is would be possible to determine the document properties from the file?
Question 9: please confirm how many questionnaires have been returned since date of inception?
Question 10: please confirm what percentage of persons have returned the questionnaires?
Question 11: please confirm how many returned questionnaires did result in a DSE assessment being required?
Question 12: please confirm how many of those required DSE assessments have been completed?
Question 13: please confirm that there has been a delay in fulfilling the statutory requirements of the DSE Regulations i.e. HSE ACop L26?
Question 14: please confirm if WDC DSE Policy has been complied with or not complied with?
Question 15: please confirm the last occasion of the Implementation Plan within the WDC DSE Policy has been 'audited' across the scope of WDC?
Question 16: please confirm there has been an issue complying with DSE statutory compliance at West Dunbartonshire Council?
Question 17: please provide answers to the following queries under FOISA re the following email ------
From: John Duffy RSP
Sent: 30 October 2014 08:27
To: Stephen Gallagher; Karen Goodwin; Elaine Stewart; Cindy Crawford; [name removed]
Subject: RE: DSE Assessments

Stevie,

This is a problem across all services, I think we need to go down the route of DSE Assessor training. Cindy has been carrying some assessments out, but it is a link officer’s role to facilitate this in conjunction with their service managers.

Happy to discuss further.

John

From: Stephen Gallagher
Sent: 29 October 2014 15:34
To: John Duffy RSP
Subject: DSE Assessments

John,

Re DSE assessments – I have been instructing employees requesting these to submit the on line assessments that was developed however once these have been done I have had numerous requests from staff who have submitted them asking what follow up action is being taken….I don’t have the time to review these as they come in and then follow up as necessary…can we discuss how we can move forward with this?

Cheers
Stevie

Stevie Gallagher
Health & Safety Officer
West Dunbartonshire Council
-----
Excerpt from above email
"This is a problem across all services, I think we need to go down the route of DSE Assessor training. Cindy has been carrying some assessments out, but it is a link officer’s role to facilitate this in conjunction with their service managers".

Question 17a: please explain what the problem has been across all services detailing what services?
Question 17b: please provide details how this has been escalated, to whom and when?
Question 17c: please provide the actions that followed the above 30 October 2014 08:27 email?
Question 17d: please provide details on how many persons did receive DSE training?
Question 17e: Gavin Walsh wrote to [name removed] with a 'costs order' on 29 May 2015 stating, among other things, 'DSE assessments as you know are to be completed by employees, and you have submitted yours'. Please confirm the date that [name removed] submitted his 'DSE Assessment' i.e. so that he can ask for a copy under DPA SAR?
Question 17f: Or alternatively is it indeed correct that Gavin Walsh has written an untruthful statement on 29 May 2015 - yes or no?
FACT: The answer being yes please explain why Gavin Walsh has knowingly presented false and misleading information to Employment Tribunals Glasgow?
Question 17g: please confirm if everyone that should have received a DSE assessment under DSE Regulations has received what they are due under L26? If not please explain why not?
Question 17h: Did the 'Link Officers' facilitate this in conjunction with their service managers?
Question 17i: please explain what facilitate this in conjunction with service managers means and confirm if this statement has been realised and this 'action' closed? If not please explain why not?
Question 18: please confirm if WDC is 100% compliant with DSE Regulations or not compliant i.e. as per ACoP L26? If not please explain why not?
Question 19: please confirm the hierarchy with responsibility for Health and Safety at West Dunbartonshire Council?
Question 20: please confirm if WDC has received any formal notices from HSE in the last 5 years detailing what for; what type of notice; and if Fees For Intervention was applied?

FYI: L26 available at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l26.htm - accessed 29/06/2016.

I look forward to hearing from WDC on the above.

Yours faithfully,

[name removed]

David Macnaughton, West Dunbartonshire Council

1 Attachment

 
[1][IMG]
Dear Sir/Madam
 
This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for information which was
received by West Dunbartonshire Council on 
30/06/2016.                            
 
I have passed it to the relevant department to consider and respond.
 
West Dunbartonshire Council will respond within 20 working days of
receipt, by           
28/07/2016.
 
I also attach a copy of West Dunbartonshire Council current Freedom of
Information charging regime for your information.
 
 
 
 
 
  ________________________________  
The information contained in this message is confidential and is intended
for the addressee only. If you have received this message in error or
there are any problems please notify the originator immediately at -
[email address] The unauthorised use, disclosure,
copying or alteration of this message is strictly forbidden. West
Dunbartonshire Council will not be liable for direct, special, indirect or
consequential damages arising from alteration of the contents of this
message by a third party or as a result of any virus being passed on.

Unless expressly stated to the contrary, this email and its contents shall
not have any contractually binding effect on West Dunbartonshire Council
or its clients and any writings which are or could form the basis of any
agreement are subject to contract.

References

Visible links
1. http://newintranet.west-dunbarton.gov.uk...

Stephen Wight,

1 Attachment

Good Morning [name removed],

 

Please find attached our response to your recent FOI request.

 

Kind Regards,

 

Stephen.

 

Stephen Wight

Freedom of Information Officer

Legal, Democratic and Regulatory Services

01389 737227

[email address]

 

show quoted sections