On starting work and annually thereafter. BUT, there are additional requirements: NEMs (New and Expectant Mothers - women who are pregnant and those who have given birth within the last 12 months) should complete a DSE assessment every three months. NEMs who have developed complications or have had difficult births may need to complete the assessments more frequently – you should ask the employees concerned to seek advice from their GPs or hospital consultants about this. Similarly, any employee who has suffered an injury outside work which affects how they sit at their workstation must also ask their doctor about the frequency of DSE assessments. If you find it difficult to get medical advice or have to wait a long time to receive it, adopt a common sense approach and make sure assessments are completed as often as you and the affected employee feel is appropriate. Finally, you may have workers with health conditions which can affect their comfort at work.  It should be easier to get medical advice on the frequency of DSE assessments for these workers, as they are likely to be under ongoing medical care.

No. Anyone who works with the equipment continuously (i.e. every day or most days) for more than an hour a day is classified as a DSE user and must complete annual DSE assessments.

Health and safety is principally the implementation of common sense thinking. But people become nervous about breaking the law and want to have reassurance that their “common sense” approach doesn’t contravene any legislation. And unfortunately, not everyone does sit correctly in their work vehicle. Once you have a way of sitting, even if it’s incorrect, you tend to stick with it; if you are positioned in a way that could cause health problems, it will only get worse. This is particularly important for drivers who spend all day in the cab of a van or lorry. An assessment takes very little time to complete, and it can protect a driver’s health and protect you from being sued later on by a disgruntled driver with a bad back.