Answer to Question 2:

Dear Marie 

There is no specific legal requirement to design work to facilitate left-handed people. However there is a legal requirement to design, provide and maintain a safe place of work.  Also in our General Application Regulations 1993, there is a requirement (in accordance with the General Principles of Prevention) to make a reasonable effort to adapt the workplace to the individual.  However the principles also state that employers should give “collective measures priority over individual measures”.

In practical terms and with regard to what would be considered best practice from an ergonomic viewpoint, a reasonable effort should be made to accommodate left handed people.  Your question did not state what type of working environment you are in.  If you are office based, this reasonable effort may include the set up of your workstation for left handed use, (as long as you are not sharing the workstation), providing you with a neutral mouse (a straight sided mouse that can be used by either right or left handed people).  For example, it would not be deemed reasonable to allow a left handed person to hold their hand in an awkward posture whilst holding a mouse designed for a right hand user.