Designing office spaces and Purchasing

Plan ahead for refurbishment and seek advice.

Information or advice about purchasing office equipment

Purchasing and Contracts Office

Facilities and Services

OHS Injury Management (OHSIM)

At the ANU, any significant change to the workplace environment is guided by an occupational health and safety (OHS) risk assessment. 

The area’s director is responsible for ensuring that the work area design and purchased equipment allow for safe work practices by all staff and visitors using the area. 

Seek advice at the planning stage.  Advice is available from Facilities and Services and OHSIM. 

Advice in relation to work design, ergonomic and other OHS issues can be gained from OHS Injury Management (OHSIM), HR Division.  

The ANU has preferred suppliers who offer desks, seating and workstation furniture that meet legislative standards and comply with the University's OHS purchasing policy.

Consideration of OHS in your planning for refurbishment can save you money by creating a more productive workplace and less risk of injury. 

Individual PC based workstations

Contact your OSLO 

Contact OHSIM if no OSLO in your area or if you have an existing condition affecting your ability to work

New staff, those returning from extended leave (more than 3 months) or moving workstations are required to have an assessment by their area occupational strain liaison officers (OSLO).  OSLOs are a volunteer ANU network of staff trained to assess an individual staff or PhD student in their PC based workstations.

Staff members with a history of medical problems, injury or disability, or non PC based workstation (e.g. labs or field) should contact OHSIM for a detailed assessment by a health professional.  Assessments by OHSIM carry no charge.

• After assessment by OHSIM, written recommendations are provided to the staff member and their supervisor.  This confidential report is retained on the personal file for the staff member. 
• The supervisor is responsible for discussing the recommendations with the staff member and taking reasonable action to resolve any issues. 
• Any equipment purchased for workstations, home offices or off-campus locations remain the property of the ANU (unless purchased under a Comcare claim for an individual). 
• The staff member must use the recommended equipment in the manner advised and may move the equipment with them if they move work areas within the ANU. 

Area PC based, field or laboratory assessments

Supervisors can request a risk assessment from their OHS rep or OHSIM.

Assessments by OHSIM carry no charge.

Report any hazards

A supervisor can request a risk assessment for a work area including advice on:

• Layout and work environment;
• Work practices (manual handling, work design etc);
• Refurbishment advice

Resources available to conduct the assessment include:

• Local area OHS representatives
• OHS Injury Management Branch
• External consultant. 

Minimum Standards for PC-based workstation equipment at the ANU

Supervisor's OHS responsibilities

For laboratory based workstations, contact OHSIM for advice

Supervisors are responsible to meet minimal standards for every staff member when supplying or arranging PC and other office equipment.  These include:

• Desk should be single surface, height adjustable (over a minimum range of 150mm) and a minimum of 900mm deep x 1200mm wide for PC use.
• If not height adjustable, corner workstations should have a height adjustable cut-out to accommodate use of the keyboard and mouse (minimum dimensions of the cut-out to be 300mm deep and 730mm wide).
• Adjustable chairs should be suited to the staff member and their tasks. 
• Chairs that do not meet Australian Standards should not be provided to staff. (AS label on base of seat)
• Phone headsets are supplied where phone use is frequent.  Supply of telephone headsets can be organised through at University PABX (ext. 55498).
• PCs are to be provided in preference to laptop use for regular work.
• A scrolling mouse is supplied where web-based programs are used and for on-screen editing duties.

Want to know more details for PC based office workstations?

Click here for detailed information about PC based work stations at the ANU

Information resources

For information about office layout and design  Officewise Occupational health and safety (OHS) risk assessment information in the Comcare publication -Officewise Office Safety: office layout, workstations and equipment 

Poor layout and design of workstation equipment increases the risk factors for occupational overuse syndrome (OOS). 

All ANU preferred suppliers can advise on how they meet Australian Standards (AS).  Current standards are available on-line from the ANU library to staff.