Use a workstation-by-workstation checklist

Have the approved order, layout and any agreed changes available. Give each desk or workstation a reference so observations can be linked to a specific item rather than described vaguely as “one of the desks”.

Swipe horizontally to read all columns.

Match the installation to the agreed order

Count the desks, chairs and storage units, then check the details. Desktop sizes, frame types, pedestal positions and accessory combinations can differ within one office. Confirm that each workstation has the configuration intended for it.

Include items that are easily overlooked: cable trays, privacy screens, monitor arms, handles and supplied keys where applicable. If something was excluded or deferred, record that explicitly rather than assuming it has been forgotten or completed.

Ask the assembler to confirm completion against the product instructions, including any manufacturer-required restraint within the agreed scope. A required fixing that could not be completed is an outstanding issue, not an optional detail to overlook.

Ask for normal operation to be demonstrated

Review drawers and doors through their intended movement without forcing them. Ask how supplied locks and chair adjustments work. With a height-adjustable desk, follow its own operating instructions and check the intended movement area before a demonstration.

Keep hands, people and objects clear of moving mechanisms. Do not demonstrate completion by deliberately overloading a desk, leaning heavily on a screen or defeating a stop. Normal operation and the manufacturer's checks are the relevant starting point.

Report sticking, unusual movement or a fault indication before the item is released. Do not apply a reset sequence taken from a different model. Desktronic's separate desk and accessory manuals illustrate why one general guide may not cover the whole workstation.

Review support, stability and the final position

Look for visible damage, gaps that appear inconsistent with the instructions and incomplete fittings. If a desk rocks or a connection moves during ordinary handling, ask for the cause to be checked. Avoid improvised packing or extra tightening as an automatic solution.

Confirm that the final positions match the agreed layout. Check chair movement, drawer opening and access to neighbouring cupboards. Keep circulation and escape routes clear, and ensure an accessory or pedestal has not been placed where it obstructs normal use.

Review visible cable routes where cable management was included. Cables should not cross walking routes or become trapped by furniture; adjustable desks need the movement allowance required by their instructions. This visual review is not an electrical inspection.

Record exceptions and separate follow-on responsibilities

Use a short outstanding-work list with the workstation reference, observed issue, photograph where useful, action owner and agreed follow-up. Distinguish a missing supplier part from unfinished assembly or a layout change; each may need a different response.

“Workstation B2: the specified cable tray has not arrived. Office coordinator to contact the supplier; fitting arrangements to be confirmed. Record separately whether the current workstation can be released for use.”

Keep product manuals, care instructions and spare supplied fittings together. Ask which maintenance or rechecking steps the manufacturer specifies rather than inventing a universal tightening schedule. Confirm packaging removal against the agreed scope.

Furniture handover does not certify ergonomics. HSE's DSE guidance considers the whole workstation, work conditions and individual requirements, and identifies new or changed workstations as assessment triggers for relevant DSE users. Arrange this through the employer's assessment process.

Finally, identify who handles IT connection, any electrical tasks and the decision to reopen each workstation. A completion record should describe what was checked and what remains outstanding; it should not imply that unrelated services were included.