Practically, now and in the future, if you have any concerns about the office space you are in or are offered, or about your working environment at home, there are various things you can do:
- If your space isn't right, don't use it. Tell your line manager and UCU rep immediately.
- Complete the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Self-Assessment form (you have been sent this; your rep if you missed it). This covers your computer etc. but also the working environment. It can result in a workplace assessment to implement changes.
- Ask your line manager for a referral to Occupational Health; see the Occupational Health Services webpage
- Remember the university’s guidance says “Laptops pose a postural risk to users when used for long periods (more than 2 hours per day)” without additional equipment (eg. a laptop stand). If you need additional equipment, ask your line manager.
- University guidance says “If working from home is not part of your contract, reasonable adjustment, or flexible working agreement, then furniture such as chairs or desks are not routinely provided by the university”. However, the guidance also says mobile working guidance for use of laptops and to improve the home workstation can be sought from the University’s Health & Safety Team. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- If you are working from home, remember University guidance says “All homeworkers must ensure that their work area is set up in accordance with good DSE working practices and the home working checklist must be completed.” You have been sent this, but ask you rep if you missed it.
- Ask your line manager for a Stress Risk Assessment. If you trip over a wire at work, you report it, and the university does something about it. If you experience work-related stress (perhaps due to not having the kind of resources or space you need to do your job), you can and should report that too, so something can be done, to your line manager (who can refer to Occupational Health), and by using this guidance: https://livenorthumbriaac.sharepoint.com/sites/csintranet/hs/Pages/Incident-Reporting.aspx?CT=1739450229472&OR=OWA-NT-Mail&CID=9321489b-6849-54de-d3ad-3b88d5daa0ee If you need help doing so, please contact your rep.
- Ask for a workplace inspection – contact your UCU rep.
- If you are moved to a new deskshare or office, find you are unable to access an appropriate desk consistently, and that this impacts your work, consider putting a message like this in your email signature until your concerns are resolved: “Please be patient when waiting for a response to your query or communication - I do not currently always have access to my own desk, and cannot always work at home”.
