H & S guidelines for laptop use
Discussion
Hi All
We are about to rollout new laptops for staff. The key requirements so far appear to be:
must be very lightweight
have long battery life
so the main contender is a diddy 12" Sony Viao.
We've shown one user and though they like it they think it is too small and has Health and Safety issues.
Does anyone know of any sensible guidelines for laptop use?
We envisage people checking emails, and giving presentations with them. Not heavy report writing. So I don't really see the big problem.
TIA
We are about to rollout new laptops for staff. The key requirements so far appear to be:
must be very lightweight
have long battery life
so the main contender is a diddy 12" Sony Viao.
We've shown one user and though they like it they think it is too small and has Health and Safety issues.
Does anyone know of any sensible guidelines for laptop use?
We envisage people checking emails, and giving presentations with them. Not heavy report writing. So I don't really see the big problem.
TIA
I dunno - I'd be pretty ticked off if I had to spend all day every day hunched over a tiny screen and cramped keyboard.
Back to the original question, though:
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf
Laptops get a special mention.
{edited to add:} Note that laptops are covered under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 in the same way as other computer workstations.
>> Edited by pdV6 on Thursday 23 March 13:58
Back to the original question, though:
www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg36.pdf
Laptops get a special mention.
{edited to add:} Note that laptops are covered under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 in the same way as other computer workstations.
>> Edited by pdV6 on Thursday 23 March 13:58
pdV6 said:
Presentations on a diddy laptop? 1-on-1, then, I guess?
Are these destined to be desktop replacements or truly portable machines?
These will be used as desktop replacemnet with a suitable docking station, full size keyboard, mouse and 17" flat screen.
They wil be used out of the office when people are away on conferences etc.
edited to add the diddy laptops will also have diddy projectors - all the presentations we give are to a largish number of people.
>> Edited by FunkyGibbon on Thursday 23 March 14:23
FunkyGibbon said:
Presentations on a diddy laptop? 1-on-1, then, I guess?
Are these destined to be desktop replacements or truly portable machines?
These will be used as desktop replacemnet with a suitable docking station, full size keyboard, mouse and 17" flat screen.
They wil be used out of the office when people are away on conferences etc.
Sound spot on, then.
To cover yourself, maybe put together a 1-page leaflet on ergonomic use when portable?
pdV6 said:
Presentations on a diddy laptop? 1-on-1, then, I guess?
Are these destined to be desktop replacements or truly portable machines?
These will be used as desktop replacemnet with a suitable docking station, full size keyboard, mouse and 17" flat screen.
They wil be used out of the office when people are away on conferences etc.
Sound spot on, then.
To cover yourself, maybe put together a 1-page leaflet on ergonomic use when portable?
cheers - that seems the best approach to me as well.
many thanks.
Why are you applying a "one-size fits all" policy?
Some might want the diddy 12" with dock and monitor, but I'd file mine straight in the bin. I'd rather have the FO 17", carry it around for the occasional presentations, and skip the monitor altogether.
Why not offer each person the option:
- Spec up two or three standard packages ("12" lite & handy", "15" powerstation", "17" presentation special, no 2nd monitor"
. Include options (e.g. trackball instead of mouse, additional software packs) only if you need to.
- Print up a one page summary (spec, weight, pro's & cons, recommended for), and include any rules (each team must have one 17" for major presentations; one 15" machine must be the graphics workstation with scanner and Photoshop Elements)
- Set the packages up for demo. Tour it, or keep it in the IT office. They can look at the screen, pick it up, generally get a feel.
- Ask the people or teams to make their own selection
They will feel part of the process, and when you deliver them you'll get a lot less moaning.
Some might want the diddy 12" with dock and monitor, but I'd file mine straight in the bin. I'd rather have the FO 17", carry it around for the occasional presentations, and skip the monitor altogether.
Why not offer each person the option:
- Spec up two or three standard packages ("12" lite & handy", "15" powerstation", "17" presentation special, no 2nd monitor"
. Include options (e.g. trackball instead of mouse, additional software packs) only if you need to. - Print up a one page summary (spec, weight, pro's & cons, recommended for), and include any rules (each team must have one 17" for major presentations; one 15" machine must be the graphics workstation with scanner and Photoshop Elements)
- Set the packages up for demo. Tour it, or keep it in the IT office. They can look at the screen, pick it up, generally get a feel.
- Ask the people or teams to make their own selection
They will feel part of the process, and when you deliver them you'll get a lot less moaning.
Hirich said:
Why are you applying a "one-size fits all" policy?
That is the current IT strategy (I'm not IT by the way, but a business user on the project team) - to minimise support overheads.
Hirich said:
Why not offer each person the option:
- Spec up two or three standard packages ("12" lite & handy", "15" powerstation", "17" presentation special, no 2nd monitor"
- Print up a one page summary (spec, weight, pro's & cons, recommended for), and include any rules (each team must have one 17" for major presentations; one 15" machine must be the graphics workstation with scanner and Photoshop Elements)
- Set the packages up for demo. Tour it, or keep it in the IT office. They can look at the screen, pick it up, generally get a feel.
I like this approach too - I'll put it to the team.
Hirich said:
- Ask the people or teams to make their own selection
They will feel part of the process, and when you deliver them you'll get a lot less moaning.
The problem with this at our place is a cultural one. If we do this we have the conflicts of:
a) what the director claims/demands people need/want
b) what the actual user claims/demands he/she need/wants
c) Magpie users who wnat the most bling
d) IT claiming it is a support nightmare
But I will put all these suggestions to the teams.
many thanks
FG
FunkyGibbon said:
c) Magpie users who wnat the most bling
d) IT claiming it is a support nightmare
These are the two main problems we have. The sales guys just HAVE to have tablet PCs to impress the clients with. Therefore everyone else has to have a tablet PC because why are the sales guys mroe important then them?
The more different models you have, the more driver issues you get, the more build images you need, the more time spent by IT making teh build images. Parts availability will be a problem as i bet whatever options you go for won't have interchangeable bits, so you'll end up with laptops out of action for a week at a time while you wait for warrenty repairs but can't scavenge bits off other spares.
Or do what I do - have two laptops *sigh* - Customer I am working for (contract, 6 months) provide a little machine with a tiny screen. Its light, looks great and is useless for anything other than email. So I do all my work on the laptop provided by my employer (which has a nice big screen) then just use the customer machine for email. I feel sorry for the customer employees that have to use these things all day long ! And I feel sorry for my poor shoulder having to lug around a whopping great bag with two laptops, two power supplies etc.
FunkyGibbon said:
Fair comments
I guess there's a trick with how much empowerment you give them (or let them think they have). Certainly stick to one model line at least (e.g. Vaio 12, 15 & 17" variants?) with the minimum of options. There might also be a case for identifying 'friendly' teams to lead the way, advise on needs, etc.
But I do feel the IT Dept is in for a fall if it tells everyone they are getting 12" Vaios. I could justify a different spec for myself that would payback with increased productivity in three months, and I wouldn't hold back in telling everyone why IT were a bunch of wallies by not asking for my input!
FunkyGibbon said:
c) Magpie users who wnat the most bling
d) IT claiming it is a support nightmare
'Magpie users' *mental note to work that into converstation today*
(d) Is spot on, whenever a user who knows enough people to get their own way, gets their own way they end up regretting it in the long term. When you have a homogenous enviroment you end up knowing all the little foibles of the machines and the software and can develop quick fixes for 99% of stuff. Having a non-standard platform means that every support call is a mini-adventure, and the answer when you leave your power adapter in a hotel room is allways 'no, sorry'.
Maybe compromise and offer a small one for the 'my shoulder hurts' crowd, and a big one for everyone else - pref. from the same manufacturer and using the same docking stations/accessories?
I've just rolled out over 12 Dell D410's to all our reps, after considerable consultation with directors, reps and my own sanity.
The main driver within the decisions were:
Weight, battery life and functionality.
Tablets were bandied around for ages, however, every single time I kept coming back to the whole support issue. I've tried many different tablets (HP's being my faves so far) and I've yet to be convinced I can support them out in the field.
We take the attitude of simply having a spare or two machine for the users - so hopefully minimising any parts issues.
However, having had the Dell x300's which were annoyingly phased out, and hence trying a D410, I was incredibly impressed by Dells approach to the Lattitude range.
The Lattitude range by in large is designed to allow maximum 'swapability' between models - not an issue yet, but in a few years when I'm after batteries for the damn things it will be.
Equally I just kept coming back to the fact that the machines were simpler for the users to use. I got more for my money (a fully racked D410, Office Basic, 3 yr onsite = £950 inc vat) and the users got a very nice looking laptop.
The key thing was that I sat down with the reps, and the directors and explained to reasons why perhaps although a tablet is a great idea, there were all sorts of issues that perhaps they had not considered.
As it was, the Lattitude range comes with a billion accesories, i.e proper docking stations, car chargers - all things that the reps/directors love - and a proper 6 hour battery life in the more powerful 85w/hr battery.
Additionally they are a 12.1" screen, giving a useful compromise between portability, and useability - I give anyone who is desk bound occasionaly a docking station and monitor/keyboard/etc.
At the end of it, I end up all smiles, as I have a workforce who think the sun shines out of my arse (until something breaks anyway) and I know that I have less support hassles with a machine that can be diagnosed, and supported much more easily than a tablet.
I thought I'd add my two pence's worth - don't worry so much about H+S - as long as you have options for docking stations etc then you'll be fine - users quoting H+S tend to get thrown to the back of the queue with me - after all I'm giving them a bling new laptop and they should be like dogs with two dicks - I know I would be, so any moaning gets a short shrift.
can you tell I've just done a major systems rollout, and the users are pissing me off with questions like "I've no shortcuts anymore" and "I can't do such and such anymore"...Never mind the fact they've all got shiny new Office to play with
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Friday 24th March 10:07
The main driver within the decisions were:
Weight, battery life and functionality.
Tablets were bandied around for ages, however, every single time I kept coming back to the whole support issue. I've tried many different tablets (HP's being my faves so far) and I've yet to be convinced I can support them out in the field.
We take the attitude of simply having a spare or two machine for the users - so hopefully minimising any parts issues.
However, having had the Dell x300's which were annoyingly phased out, and hence trying a D410, I was incredibly impressed by Dells approach to the Lattitude range.
The Lattitude range by in large is designed to allow maximum 'swapability' between models - not an issue yet, but in a few years when I'm after batteries for the damn things it will be.
Equally I just kept coming back to the fact that the machines were simpler for the users to use. I got more for my money (a fully racked D410, Office Basic, 3 yr onsite = £950 inc vat) and the users got a very nice looking laptop.
The key thing was that I sat down with the reps, and the directors and explained to reasons why perhaps although a tablet is a great idea, there were all sorts of issues that perhaps they had not considered.
As it was, the Lattitude range comes with a billion accesories, i.e proper docking stations, car chargers - all things that the reps/directors love - and a proper 6 hour battery life in the more powerful 85w/hr battery.
Additionally they are a 12.1" screen, giving a useful compromise between portability, and useability - I give anyone who is desk bound occasionaly a docking station and monitor/keyboard/etc.
At the end of it, I end up all smiles, as I have a workforce who think the sun shines out of my arse (until something breaks anyway) and I know that I have less support hassles with a machine that can be diagnosed, and supported much more easily than a tablet.
I thought I'd add my two pence's worth - don't worry so much about H+S - as long as you have options for docking stations etc then you'll be fine - users quoting H+S tend to get thrown to the back of the queue with me - after all I'm giving them a bling new laptop and they should be like dogs with two dicks - I know I would be, so any moaning gets a short shrift.
can you tell I've just done a major systems rollout, and the users are pissing me off with questions like "I've no shortcuts anymore" and "I can't do such and such anymore"...Never mind the fact they've all got shiny new Office to play with
>> Edited by neil_cardiff on Friday 24th March 10:07
Hi there,
Just a word of warning re: Vaio notebooks... I've had a 10.6" Vaio TR5 for a couple of years now, and would really suggest looking into going for something like an IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad instead. The build quality (speaking from my experience of a couple of different Vaio models) is leagues apart! I'm actually switching from the Vaio back to a ThinkPad as the Vaio really doesn't feel up to the job - the plastics are low quality, and my DVD-RW tray is stuck in with masking tape! (A replacement drive is £200 for a Combo - I bet IBM parts are cheaper also!)
However, I get on with the 10.6" screen fantastic - the resolution is high (1280x768 I think) and find it fine for graphic design etc. The xblack screen coating is gorgeous! IBM do the X41 which is their sub-notebook offering with a 12.1" standard aspect ratio screen.
Hope this is of some use to you!
Just a word of warning re: Vaio notebooks... I've had a 10.6" Vaio TR5 for a couple of years now, and would really suggest looking into going for something like an IBM/Lenovo ThinkPad instead. The build quality (speaking from my experience of a couple of different Vaio models) is leagues apart! I'm actually switching from the Vaio back to a ThinkPad as the Vaio really doesn't feel up to the job - the plastics are low quality, and my DVD-RW tray is stuck in with masking tape! (A replacement drive is £200 for a Combo - I bet IBM parts are cheaper also!)
However, I get on with the 10.6" screen fantastic - the resolution is high (1280x768 I think) and find it fine for graphic design etc. The xblack screen coating is gorgeous! IBM do the X41 which is their sub-notebook offering with a 12.1" standard aspect ratio screen.
Hope this is of some use to you!
detchibe said:...I seem to be on my own. I've used my VAIO Z1-XSP pretty much every day for the last two years, in my office, client sites, airports, hotels, conferences, and it is still in perfect order. Nothing has failed, broken, or come loose, nothing feels tired about it at all. Granted it's a sample size of one, but I wouldn't hesitate to buy another, having had IBMs and Dells in the past.
a word of warning re: Vaio notebooks
In terms of parts prices, the screen failed on one of my Thinkpads (in either 99 or 2000, I think) and it was cheaper to buy an entire new Dell laptop than an IBM screen!
Back on-topic, I think if you give them the option of a docking station and screen if they're deskbound, a one-pager on ergonomic use of laptops away from desks, then you should be fine. Depending on your organisation, you could organise a "training session" for a lunchtime to go over the do's and dont's, and give them a certificate after. I'm only half-joking - some places I've worked they love that sort of thing!
Problem with Sony Vaios is that their driver support is terrible, and their support full stop is virtually non existent.
In a larger rollout, I refuse to accept them as a plausible machine that can be managed reliably.
Just sticking a disc in and wiping everything is not a clever way of helping your users through a problem.
At least with Dell I know I can get the drivers and essential applications off their website, which to me is worth more than a fancy pants case or screen.
Neil
In a larger rollout, I refuse to accept them as a plausible machine that can be managed reliably.
Just sticking a disc in and wiping everything is not a clever way of helping your users through a problem.
At least with Dell I know I can get the drivers and essential applications off their website, which to me is worth more than a fancy pants case or screen.
Neil
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