Desks at Aston

Aston Cross includes a flexible desk arrangement. It is important that you keep both paper and electronic documents and records safe when you are working at your desk or on your screen, and when you are away from your desk for any period of time. 

It is necessary to ensure that:  

• Colleagues leave their desks clean and tidy during the course of their working day and at the end of their working day.

• Colleagues use the anti-bacterial spray and blue roll available to clean down their desk, keyboard and mouse both before and after use - the blue roll should be disposed of in the appropriate waste bin provided. 

• Consideration should be given to protect any sensitive information. Documents should be stored securely in either a personal locker or a locked filing cabinet if others need access to these documents. Colleagues should make sure that any documents lying on their desk are not visible to visitors, members of the public or colleagues who are not authorised to see them.

• Sensitive information, when printed, should be cleared from printers immediately and if necessary, disposed of by using the shredder in the post room.

• Areas around the desk must also be kept clear of personal belongings with any large bags/backpacks placed inside your locker, not kept hanging from your chair nor under the desk - this minimises the potential for trip hazards. Small handbags are permitted but they should be stored safely away under the desk. 

• It is important that documents, posters or pictures are not attached to the back boards at the desks or on any wall in the facilities.

• Colleagues are expected to log off from their PC/laptop when left unoccupied for any period of time.

• Laptops should be taken home with the employee each night and any other equipment is stored in your personal locker.

• When leaving your desk for breaks or lunch or to attend a meeting, colleagues should lock down their screen using Ctrl, Alt, Delete and then Lock (or shortcut using Windows key  + L) 

• Mobile devices should be PIN protected and should be stored securely when not in use.

• Colleagues should make sure that no open documents on their computer screens are visible to visitors, members of the public or colleagues who are not authorised to view them.

The DSE assessment process will consist of a self assessment checklist completed via a link to a google document which can be found on here.

A copy of your completed questionnaire should be forwarded to your line manager. In the event of any queries, line managers should contact the HR or H&S team for further guidance.  Any colleagues requiring further assessment may be referred via the HR team for a specialist assessment with Posturite or occupational health.