Working Safely with Display Screen Equipment

23 Oct

The incorrect use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) or poorly designed workstations or work environments can lead to pain in necks, shoulders, backs, arms, wrists and hands as well as fatigue and eye strain.

As a result, all employers have a legal duty to protect their workers from the health risks associated with working with Display Screen Equipment, such as PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations apply to workers who use DSE daily, for an hour or more at a time, i.e. users. However, the regulations don’t apply to workers who use DSE infrequently or only use it for a short time.

The law applies if users are, for example:

  • At a fixed workstation
  • Mobile workers
  • Home workers
  • Hot-deskers (workers should carry out a basic risk assessment if they change desks regularly)

If you have DSE users, you must:

  • Undertake a DSE workstation assessment
  • Reduce risks, including making sure workers take breaks from DSE work or do something different
  • Provide an eye test if a worker asks for one and provide spectacles, if required
  • Provide training and information for users

For further information, please click here or for details of the Display Screen Equipment training courses provided by Thomas Carroll, please contact Lauren Hill on 02920 853794 or at lauren.hill@thomas-carroll.co.uk.