Display screen equipment (DSE) is equipment with a graphic or alphanumeric display screen. In layman’s terms, DSE includes equipment and devices like PCs, smartphones, tablets and laptops. The use of DSE makes up a large proportion of many workers’ jobs and should be regarded with high importance accordingly. DSE users frequently develop aches and pains which could be avoided or minimised by modifying their use of DSE. You wouldn’t climb into the driver’s seat of a car and start driving without adjusting the seat and mirror position first. Nor should you work at a desk all day without modifying it to fit you individually. Throughout this article, we will explore how you can best adapt your workspace and habits to address your needs.

Adjusting your Chair

It is important to adopt an upright posture, sitting all the way back in your chair with your back upright and relaxed. Both your lower and upper back should be supported and you should adjust your chair to ensure this is the case. Adjusting the height of your chair is crucial to achieving good posture. Your knees should be level with or lower than your hips with your feet planted flat on the floor. There shouldn’t be any pressure on the backs of your legs or on your knees. A footrest might be required if your feet cannot rest comfortably on the floor. Additionally, the arms of your chair should not prevent you getting close enough to the DSE. Some people overcome this issue by opting for a chair with no arms.

Positioning your Keyboard and Mouse

Your keyboard should be placed directly in front of you and centred with the screen. When typing you should keep your forearms horizontal and your elbows hung loosely at your sides. Your wrists should be straight with your fingers gently curled. You should avoid positioning your arms too low as this can put unnecessary stress on your wrists and result in injury. Likewise, people frequently hit the keys too hard when typing and overstretch their fingers which can result in hand and elbow pain. The distance between your keyboard and the edge of your desk should be enough to allow your wrists to rest comfortably when you are not typing. It is important to position your mouse next to your keyboard, allowing you to move it with your forearm horizontal and your wrist straight. The movement should be generated from your shoulder and elbow whilst your forearm is supported by the desk or chair arm or by an additional supporting device.

Modifying your Display Screen

Your screen should be centred in front of you and positioned at an arm’s length away. The height should be adjusted so that you can see the entire screen without turning or tilting your head and your eyes must be level with the top of the screen. It is important to customise your display screen settings to suit you. Light conditions must be factored in, e.g. by altering the brightness and contrast controls on your monitor. Glare and reflections can make screens difficult to read and tire your eyes, but adjusting the angle of your monitor and using window blinds should overcome this issue. Keeping your screen clean also aids visibility and helps to reduce eye strain. If any characters on your screen are flickering or moving, this must be reported to your line manager and promptly corrected. Additionally, any paper documents should be held in a document holder which is fixed and displayed next to your screen, at the same height and viewing distance as your monitor. This prevents awkward neck and eye movements to alternate your gaze between the paper documents and your screen.

Organising your Workspace

Your workspace can be divided into three zones, arranged in concentric circles:

• Zone 1 is closest to you and should contain the items that you use most frequently.
• Zone 2 is an intermediate region and should be the home of items that you use occasionally.
• Zone 3 is the furthest from you and will house the items that you rarely use.

Remote Working

Working remotely increases your chance of developing DSE-related health conditions. Wherever you are working, be it a café, a train or your own home, it is important to set up your equipment properly. Setting up your portable equipment to simulate a desktop set-up is ideal. You can raise the top of your laptop screen to eye level by using a laptop riser, or alternatively you could use a separate monitor. Laptop keyboards are not ideal as they are compact and require you to bend your wrists. Using a separate keyboard and mouse avoids this predicament.

Display Screen Equipment Breaks

Sitting at your workstation for long periods of time can take its toll on your body. To avoid these repercussions, it is important to take regular breaks away from your DSE and your desk. It is advised that employees organise their work in a way that allows them to do non-DSE work tasks for at least 5 minutes of every hour. Such tasks may include making phone calls, photocopying and filing. There are also a number of different exercises that you can perform at your workstation in order to prevent fatigue, pain and discomfort. Including stretching (both standing up and sitting down), chin tucking, rolling your shoulders and rotating your wrists and hands.

The Importance of Adjusting your Display Screen Equipment

The use of display screen equipment can contribute towards the development of a number of ailments, most commonly musculoskeletal problems, visual fatigue and mental stress. Implementing the aforementioned modifications to your workspace and daily routines can help mitigate these risks. Good DSE use benefits both employees and employers. Employees will suffer fewer health problems, which increases their wellbeing and happiness. Employers will find their staff members taking fewer sick days and generating higher morale. A fundamental way of increasing knowledge and awareness of proper DSE usage is through the implementation of mandatory display screen equipment training.

Display screen equipment (DSE) is equipment or devices with an alphanumeric or graphic display screen – for example laptops, PCs, smartphones and tablets. Regular use of DSE can culminate in the development of a multitude of health problems. The most common issues are musculoskeletal problems, tired eyes, headaches and mental stress. However, it’s not all doom and gloom as these health risks can be mitigated through the introduction of good DSE use practices and proper workplace set-up. It is important that employers familiarise themselves with their responsibilities to their DSE users. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, which were subsequently updated in 2002, outline these responsibilities. The legislation covers risk assessment and modification of users’ workstations as well as the provision of health and safety training.

How Should a Display Screen Equipment Workstation be Set Up?

Setting up your chair appropriately is fundamental to ensuring good posture and reducing musculoskeletal pain. You should adjust the height so that your knees are in line with, or lower than, your hips with your feet planted flat on the ground. Some people require a footrest to properly support their feet. The back of your chair should support the entirety of your back whilst you sit up straight. Also, the arms of your chair should not prevent you from getting close to your desk; some people opt for a chair with no arms to overcome this limitation.

The positioning of your keyboard and mouse is also important as many DSE health problems involve the arms and shoulders. You must place your screen and keyboard directly in front of you, with your mouse situated to the side of your keyboard. Your forearms should be horizontal and your elbows hung at your sides as you type. Likewise, your wrists should remain straight and your fingers slightly curled. You must take care not to position your arms too low, hit the keys too hard or overstretch your fingers when typing. These are all common mistakes which can contribute towards the development of health problems.

Properly modifying your display screen to suit you individually helps to avoid headaches and tired eyes. Your monitor should be situated at an arm’s length away from you with your eyes in line with the top of the screen. The height must allow you to see the whole screen without turning or tilting your head. Additionally, the brightness and contrast settings of your monitor need to be modified to suit your environment and may need adjusting from day to day. Similarly, the angle of your monitor may need to be changed to reduce glare or the window blinds may require adjusting.

Organising your workspace in a logical manner also helps to protect you against the health risks of using DSE. Objects that you use regularly should be positioned closest to you whilst items used more rarely can be kept further away. Additionally, a paper holder should be fixed next to your monitor so that your paper documents are displayed next to your screen at the same height and distance away from you. This prevents awkward neck and eye movements when switching your gaze between the two.

How Does Workstation Set-up Affect Employees?

An employee’s workstation set-up can greatly impact the development of DSE-related health conditions. Musculoskeletal problems are commonly associated with bad posture which can quickly become a bad habit while using DSE. Properly setting up your chair and desk goes a long way towards combatting musculoskeletal pain, but a conscious effort to maintain good posture is also required. Both headaches and eye fatigue (tired eyes) can be caused by sitting too close to your display screen, screen glare and poorly setting up your brightness and contrast levels. Improper workstation set-up can also result in employee dissatisfaction and stress which impacts every aspect of their work life.

Employer Responsibilities

The Display Screen Equipment Regulation 1992 outlines an employer’s responsibilities regarding DSE users. An employer’s responsibilities extend to employees working at their employer’s workstation, another employer’s workstation or a home workstation. The workstation checklist is a useful tool for conducting DSE workstation risk assessments and can be completed by users themselves, if given the relevant training. The workstation checklist covers the following areas: keyboards, mouses, display screens, software, furniture (e.g. chair, desk and paper equipment) and working environment (e.g. space, lighting, air quality, temperature, noise).

To be classed as a DSE user under the legislation, workers must fulfil all the following criteria:

• Normally use DSE for continuous periods of an hour or more
• Generally use DSE daily
• Be required to transfer information quickly to or from the DSE.

Additionally, they must fulfil one of the following criteria:

• Have to use very high levels of attention and concentration
• Be highly dependent on the DSE, or have little choice about using it
• Require specialist training or skills in order to operate the DSE.

Why is Workstation Set-up Important for Employers?

Workstation set-up is crucially important as it helps protect the health of your employees. Employers must bear in mind that it is their legal responsibility to ensure that workstations are properly set up for their DSE users, under the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 and 2002. As well as simply ensuring compliance with the law, proper workstation set-up can directly benefit your organisation. For example, inadequate workstation set-up could result in an employee developing shoulder pain which would in turn cause them suffering, inevitably affecting the quality of work they produce and maybe resulting in more sick days being taken. It makes simple business sense to ensure your employee’s health to the best of your ability. Additionally, the provision of mandatory display screen equipment training encourages employees to take responsibility for their own health and safety as well as fulfilling another requirement of the DSE regulations.

Display screen equipment (DSE) is equipment and devices with a graphic or alphanumeric display screen, e.g. smartphones, PCs, laptops and tablets. The term workstation refers to a user’s screen, keyboard, other parts of the computer and its accessories, desk, chair and immediate work environment. Many workers use DSE on a daily basis, which can result in a number of health problems. The primary risks associated with DSE use are musculoskeletal problems, eye fatigue and mental stress. The aforementioned consequences are not inevitable and they are often multifactorial, so cannot be entirely attributed to using DSE. However, regular risk assessment and the adoption of good DSE practices helps to reduce these risks. Completion of the DSE workstation checklist makes up part of DSE risk assessment which allows you to identify and act on areas of risk, thus protecting the health and safety of your DSE users.

What Does a Display Screen Equipment Workstation Checklist Cover?

The checklist concentrates solely on the DSE user’s workstation and covers the following areas:

• Keyboards
• Mouse, trackball, etc.
• Display screens
• Software
• Furniture (e.g. chair, desk and paper equipment)
• Environment (e.g. space, lighting, air quality, temperature, noise)

However, other factors, such as health and safety training and DSE breaks also require an employer’s attention.

How is the Display Screen Equipment Workstation Checklist Used?

The checklist contains a number of DSE risk factors which are to be assessed. Ticking yes to each of the risk factor questions means that no further investigation or remedial action is required. The checklist can be used to comply with the Schedule to the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992) as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002. DSE protection extends to employees working at their employer’s workstation, another employer’s workstation or a home workstation. The workstation analysis should be repeated if there is any reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or if there has been a significant change to the workstation.

Who must complete a Display Screen Equipment Workstation Checklist?

A DSE workstation checklist must be completed for each DSE user. Employees are classed as DSE users if they meet all of the following criteria:

• They normally use DSE for continuous (or nearly continuous) periods of an hour or more at a time
• They use DSE pretty much daily
• They have to transfer information quickly to or from the DSE
• They fulfil one of the following criteria:
  • Need to use high levels of attention and concentration
  • Are very dependent on the DSE or have little choice over using it
  • Require special training or skills to use the DSE

Users can complete the DSE checklist themselves, as long as they are given adequate training to use it.

Why is the Display Screen Equipment Workstation Checklist Important?

Completing a DSE workstation checklist is a fundamental step in performing a DSE risk assessment. This is important primarily because it protects the health and safety of workers, but also because it is a legal requirement. Once any DSE risks have been identified, measures can be put in place to address them. Another requirement of the Display Screen Equipment Regulation 1992 regulation is that employers provide their DSE users with health and safety training. As well as informing users on how to look after themselves whilst using DSE at work, training also raises awareness of the importance of good DSE practices.

Related Courses

Display screen equipment (DSE) is the term coined for devices and equipment that have a graphic or alphanumeric display screen. This includes PCs, laptops, tablets, smartphones and microfiche readers. Given the vast quantity of time that many workers spend in front of display screens, creating and maintaining a comfortable and healthy workspace is imperative. Poor posture and unsuitable work environments can contribute towards the development of many aches and pains, commonly affecting the upper limb, back and eyes. Training staff members in how to maintain good posture and work conditions within their workspace is essential. Display screen equipment training courses are invaluable in increasing awareness and knowledge around safe working conditions. Staff should be encouraged to take responsibility for their own health and employers should be familiar with their legal requirements.
What is Display Screen Equipment and how is it Used?
As outlined above, the term Display Screen Equipment encompasses many computers and devices that are used on a daily basis within businesses (e.g. smartphones, PCs, laptops and tablets). Virtually all office workers have access to DSE and use it on a regular basis. While its use is not high risk as such, careful protections should be put in place to protect DSE users. Dependent on how regularly a worker uses their DSE and for what duration, they may be covered by the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992. Whilst workers who infrequently use DSE, or only use it for short periods of time, are not covered by the legislation, their health is still of paramount importance and should be protected accordingly. Employers should familiarise themselves with their responsibilities regarding DSE users.

How to Use Your Display Screen Equipment Correctly
DSE arrangement is not a one-size fits all concept; therefore your equipment must be set up to suit you individually. Good posture is essential in maintaining good health whilst using DSE. It can be facilitated by organising your workspace in a comfortable layout. You should maintain an upright posture in a chair with proper back support and adjust it to your height. Also, your forearms should be horizontal when typing with straight wrists and comfortably curved fingertips. Similarly, your screen should be centrally positioned and an arm’s length in front of you with your eyes level with the top of the screen. You should regularly look away from your screens to avoid tiring your eyes and take regular breaks. Keeping active throughout the day is important. It is recommended that you organise your work so that every hour you spend at least five minutes doing work activities away from your screen such as photocopying, making calls, etc. There are also a number of workstation exercises that can be performed at your desk to help prevent fatigue, pain and discomfort. As well as organising your time, it is beneficial to organise your workspace. For example, the items that you use most frequently should be stored in the closest proximity to you and the ones used more rarely kept further afield. Furthermore, keeping your desk free from clutter is vital.
Why is it Important to Use Your Display Screen Equipment Correctly?
Poor safety regarding DSE usage can result in a multitude of ailments, including aches and pains, headaches, musculoskeletal disorders, stress and tired eyes. In order to protect workers from these unpleasant repercussions, it is essential to put a spotlight on proper DSE usage. Display screen equipment training is a fundamental way of generating awareness of the importance of workers looking after their own health. Additionally, education enables DSE users to implement and maintain good working practices. The Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 outlines an employer’s responsibility to provide DSE users with health and safety training regarding the use of DSE at work.

Related Courses

Display screen equipment (DSE) is any equipment or device that has an alphanumeric or graphic display screen. This includes PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets. Regular DSE use is common in the workplace and whilst it has revolutionised business, it does come with risk. Regular, prolonged DSE use can cause musculoskeletal problems, eye tiredness, headaches and mental stress. Due to these health risks, it is deemed necessary for employers to perform a DSE risk assessment and act to mitigate any risks which may be identified. Rectifying actions include, but are not limited to, establishing proper workplace set-up, providing DSE training and ensuring DSE users take regular breaks. Furthermore, conducting DSE risk assessments is not a choice – it is a legal requirement.

Legal Requirements

Regulation 2 of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 outlines an employer’s responsibility to conduct workstation assessments and reduce any risks which have been identified. Employers have a responsibility towards any DSE users employed by them as well as any agency workers they are using. DSE users are workers who use DSE almost daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more, and transfer data quickly to or from the DSE. Additionally, DSE users must either: require high levels of concentration, be highly dependent on the DSE, have little choice over using it or require specialist training or skills to use it. Part of the DSE risk assessment is made up by the workstation checklist which can be completed by users, provided they receive training on how to fill it in. The risk assessment must be repeated if there is any reason to suspect that it is no longer valid or if there has been a significant change to the workstation.

How Can Risks Be Reduced Once They Have Been Identified?

Regulation 2 continues to state that employers must reduce the risks identified within the assessment to the lowest level reasonably practical. A number of approaches can be used simultaneously to reduce DSE risk, including workstation adaptations, encouraging regular breaks, performing workstation exercises and providing DSE training. DSE users require training to know how to arrange their workspace to avoid health problems. Emphasis must also be placed on taking regular breaks as it is widely advised that DSE users should spend at least five minutes of every hour doing non-DSE tasks. Break monitoring software can be implemented to encourage workers to take breaks. However, the responsibility still ultimately falls on their employer. In summary, awareness and education are the key tools in combatting DSE-related health problems, both of which can be generated through display screen equipment training.

Why should you conduct a Display Screen Equipment Risk Assessment?

A thorough risk assessment allows quick problem identification and peace of mind for both DSE users and their employers. When coupled with an effective system to combat risks as soon as they are identified, a whole host of ramifications can be avoided. There is research to suggest that proper use of DSE only results in a very low risk of DSE-related health conditions. However, improper use and poor workstation set-up substantially increases an individual’s risk. This unnecessary additional risk often culminates in employee suffering and consequent repercussions on productivity and satisfaction. Therefore, it seems logical to undertake regular risk assessments before this chain reaction is put into motion. As previously mentioned, risk assessment is a legal requirement outlined in regulation 2 of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992. Compliance is vitally important to ensure you are line with the law. Also, under regulation 6 of the DSE Regulations 1992, employers are required to provide their DSE users with training and education on DSE use. Risk assessment and training can go hand in hand to raise awareness of the importance of proper DSE use and arm users with the knowledge and skills to implement good practices.

A high proportion of workers spend the majority of their day sat at a desk looking at display screen equipment (DSE) such as PCs, laptops and smartphones. Whilst DSE use is not high-risk as such, the large proportion of time spent working with it can lead to the development of a multitude of health conditions. Musculoskeletal problems are a frequent complication, most commonly affecting the arms, neck and back. A number of exercises have been designed to be performed at your workstation in order to avoid the development of musculoskeletal problems.

Exercises to Reduce Fatigue, Pain and Discomfort

The following exercises involve standing, stretching and changing posture, with the aim of mitigating the risks of using DSE on a regular basis. Our first stretch is termed the wake up stretch. This begins with interlocking your fingers and facing your palms away from you. Next you should extend your arms horizontally in front of you. Keeping your arms in a straight position you should now raise them directly above your head, before lowering them again to the horizontal position. This raising and lowering action can be repeated several times.

The next stretch is performed in the seated position. You should extend your arms with fingers interlocked and palms facing outwards, this time above your head. Then you can gently lean your arms and torso backwards, creating a gentle stretch in your back. Stretch back as far as is comfortable before resuming an upright position.

You will need to be standing for our next stretch. Place your hands on the tops of your hips with your elbows pointing backwards. Now lean back with your shoulders whilst pushing forward with your hands. Then gently resume an upright position and repeat the motion a few times.

Our next stretch is a simple movement that can be performed either standing or sitting. Whilst keeping your body still, gently lower your chin to rest on your chest. Slowly lift your chin and return it to its natural position. Repeat this process a few times.

This common stretch can be performed in a seated position. With the rest of your body still and your head facing straight ahead, gently rotate your shoulders backwards in a circular fashion, bringing them as close to your ears as comfortable before gently lowering them. After rolling them backwards a few times you should repeat the process but rotate them forwards.

The next stretch also focuses on your shoulders, a common site of pain and tension. Your arms should be held in front of you, bent at the elbow but kept flat in a horizontal plane. Keeping your arms horizontal you should gently push them back at the same time one either side of your body, so that your elbows end as close to touching behind your back as is comfortable. Gently bring them back through the movement into the starting position and repeat the motion a few times.

Now for our final exercise, we will focus on the wrists and hands. Start this movement with your hand held out flat in front of you (as though you were about to high-five someone). Then close your fingers into your palm, keeping your thumb extended. Tilt your wrist down and around in a fluid circular movement until it ends up in the position you started in. Then extend your fingers (again into the high-five position) before closing them in to make a fist with your thumb tucked in.

The Benefits of Performing these Exercises

Performing stretching exercises, like the ones outlined above, helps to reduce the fatigue, pain and discomfort caused by regular DSE use. The most common DSE-related health issues are musculoskeletal problems, headaches, stress and eye fatigue. Regularly undertaking these exercises prevents the development of musculoskeletal problems. Poor posture when siting at work desks often results in neck and back ache whilst hitting the keyboard too hard puts unnecessary pressure on your hands and wrists. The day-to-day activities of a DSE user can put an accumulating level of stress on the body, much of which can be relieved with these stretches. Therefore, when integrated into your work routine they serve to reduce the risk of you developing DSE-related health problems.

What Else Can Improve your Health When Using Display Screen Equipment?

It is imperative that you arrange your workspace in a way that suits both your body and your needs. This includes modifying your chair, keyboard and monitor to be at the right height and distances. Combating glare and reflections on your monitors which could cause unnecessary eye strain is also important. You must prioritise the things you use most frequently to be kept closest to you, whilst items used more rarely can be kept further afield. As well as factoring in time to perform the aforementioned stretches, it is important to arrange your work to allow at least 5 minutes every hour of non-DSE work tasks. These tasks may include phone calls, photocopying, meetings and filing. Encouraging employees to take responsibility for their own health when using DSE is beneficial to both employees and employers. Mandatory display screen equipment training is a good place to start as it both generates awareness of good DSE usage and increases knowledge.

Related Courses

Display screen equipment (DSE) is equipment with a graphic or alphanumeric display screen, e.g. PCs, laptops, smartphones and tablets. Regular use of DSE has been linked with the development of a number of health problems, the most common being musculoskeletal problems, headaches and eye fatigue. These consequences are not inevitable and in fact they are often multifactorial, meaning DSE is not entirely to blame for their development. However, there are some simple changes that you can make to reduce your risk of DSE-related health problems.

The main health risks of using display screen equipment are:

– Musculoskeletal problems
– Headaches
– Eye fatigue
Let’s look at each of these risks in details, to explore the most common complications, what causes them and what you can do to avoid them.
Musculoskeletal Problems
Musculoskeletal issues involve the muscles and bones as well as any supporting structures. These commonly affect the arm, neck and back and can be largely attributed to bad posture, incorrect seat set up and incorrect workstation arrangement. The first step in combatting musculoskeletal problems is properly setting up your workstation. Your chair should be at a height that allows your knees to be in line with or lower than your hips, whilst your feet planted comfortably on the ground and your back straight. You should sit upright and your chair should support both your lower and upper back. It is important that your screen and keyboard are placed directly in front of you, with your mouse just beside your keyboard. Your forearms should be kept horizontal and your elbows hung at your sides when typing. Furthermore, your keyboard should be far enough away that your wrists are able to rest comfortably on your desk when you are not typing. Aches and twinges can indicate that you are developing a musculoskeletal problem, so you should act on these by ensuring your equipment is properly arranged.

Headaches
Headaches can be caused by sustained close proximity to display screens, screen glare and inadequate screen contrast and brightness settings. In order to reduce the number and intensity of headaches you have when using DSE, you should position your screen at an arm’s length from you. It is also important to reduce screen glare by using window blinds and adjusting the angle of your monitor. Additionally, you should take care to adjust your monitor’s contrast and brightness levels to suit your current environment (this may need adjusting from day to day). An uncomfortable workstation can result in stress and tension, both of which can culminate in headaches.
Eye Fatigue
Eye fatigue (which just means tired eyes) is a complication of regularly using DSE. Similarly to the causes of DSE-related headaches, having your screen too close to you or with incorrect contrast and brightness settings can cause eye fatigue. As well as properly positioning your screen and updating its contrast and brightness settings, looking away from your screen regularly helps to prevent eye fatigue. Whilst DSE use has not been linked to a deterioration in eyesight, employers are obliged by law to offer DSE users an eye test when requested. This can either be through issuing an eye care voucher or by arranging a test through a workplace healthcare scheme. Similarly, if you are prescribed glasses specifically for DSE use, your employer must provide you with a basic pair of glasses.
How Can I Look After my Health when Using Display Screen Equipment?
As well as incorporating the aforementioned adaptations, there are a number of changes that you can fit into your day to avoid the negative repercussions of DSE use. It is advised that you organise your day to allow at least 5 minutes each hour for non-DSE tasks. This could be things like meetings, phone calls or photocopying. There are also a number of different stretches that you can do at your workstation in order to prevent DSE complications. However, one of the most valuable tools for preventing DSE health problems is display screen equipment training. This will help you understand and account for the risks of using DSE, enabling you to best look after your health.

Related Courses

Related Courses

The current governing legislation regarding the use of display screen equipment (DSE) for work purposes is the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 as amended in 2002. DSE is equipment and devices with an alphanumeric or graphic display screen. This includes PCs, smartphones, tablets and laptops, all of which are commonplace in a work environment. The Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 were revisited in 2002 to take into account the changes in technology since the regulations were published. The changes in 2002 also reflected a better understanding of the health risks that regular DSE use poses along with how these risks can be controlled. Such health risks include musculoskeletal problems, headaches, tired eyes and mental stress.
What was the Preceding Legislation?
Prior to the 2002 amendments, the existing legislation was the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. The regulations apply to all DSE users (i.e. workers who use DSE daily for at least an hour continuously). The regulations can be divided into 4 broad categories:

• Workstation assessments
• Managing workloads
• Eye care
• Training and information

What changes were introduced in 2002?
A number of minor changes were made to the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 through the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002. Changes were made in the following areas:

• Health risks of DSE use and how to successfully mitigate them
• Portable DSE
• Working with a mouse or pointing device
• Exclusions
• Application of the legislation to special groups, like home workers and agency workers
• Workstation requirements
• Corrective glasses
• Software, including break monitoring software

Between 1992 and 2002, the use of laptops increased substantially. In addition to the gradual evolution of smartphones and their monumental increase in prevalence, the 1992 section on portables was becoming quickly outdated. The 2002 amendment sought to bring regulations up to the forefront of our digital age. Consequently the regulations were updated to include explicit confirmation that laptops too were covered by these restrictions, when used for prolonged periods of time and that smartphones were also classed as portable DSE.
Why is Display Screen Equipment Regulation Important?
The Display Screen Equipment Regulations are crucially important because they protect the health and safety of your workers. Protecting the health of your workers means that your workers will in turn be happier, produce a better quality of work and take fewer sick days. Therefore, the benefits span across employees and employers alike. Furthermore, regulation breaches could result in you being issued an Improvement Notice, followed by a number of progressively more serious penalties. It is important to note that the regulations merely outline a minimum accepted health and safety standard and there is much that could be done to exceed them and create good practice within your organisation.

Related Courses

Related Courses

Display screen equipment (DSE) is equipment and devices with an alphanumeric or graphic display screen. This includes PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones as well as less typical equipment such as microfiche readers. The legislation governing its use includes the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 as well as the updated Display Screen Equipment Regulations 2002. Throughout this article we will focus on the initial DSE Regulations 1992. Prolonged and regular use of DSE comes hand in hand with a number of health risks. The most common complications are: musculoskeletal problems, headaches, tired eyes and mental stress. In order to mitigate these risks, employers have a range of responsibilities surrounding their DSE users. Requirements include: assessing risks, managing workloads, providing training, ensuring workstations are adequate and providing eyecare when required.
Which Employees are covered by the Legislation?
Not everybody who uses DSE is classed as a DSE user. In order to qualify as a DSE user employees must use DSE pretty much every day for an hour or more continuously. They must also have to transfer data quickly to or from the DSE. Additionally, they must fulfil at least one of the following criteria:

• Be required to use very high levels of attention and concentration
• Be highly dependent on the DSE, or have little choice over using it
• Need specialist training and/or skills in order to operate the DSE

It is important that employers correctly identify DSE users so they can ensure they are fulfilling their responsibilities. However, this does not mean that workers who fall short of qualifying as DSE users should have their DSE related needs disregarded.
Workstation Assessment
A DSE workstation includes keyboards, mouses, display screens, software, furniture and immediate environmental factors. All of which can impact a worker whilst they operate DSE. For example, using a chair that has not been adjusted to your height can cause back pain, whilst using a monitor which has poorly suited brightness and contrast settings could result in eye tiredness and headaches. DSE users must complete a workstation assessment which is designed to help identify any risks. In order for workers to perform these assessments themselves, they must first receive training on how to do so. The intention is that identification of any inadequacies will facilitate action to mitigate these risks. Any special requirements of the user (e.g. disability) should be taken into account whilst performing this assessment.

Managing Workloads
It is recommended that DSE users structure their work so that they spend at least five minutes of every hour doing non-DSE tasks. These tasks may include photocopying, filing and making phone calls. As an employer you must ensure that an employee’s workload is suitable to facilitate adoption of this structure. You should also ensure that workers are taking it upon themselves to implement this practice. Break monitoring software can be installed to encourage users to take breaks; however, it is still your responsibility to ensure this guidance is being adhered to. Encouraging regular breaks helps to avoid tired eyes and headaches, whilst standing up and away from your workstation helps to avoid musculoskeletal problems.
Eye Care
Regular DSE use has been found to be associated with eye fatigue (which just means tired eyes). This is exacerbated by a poorly suited workstation, screen glare and unsuitable contrast and brightness settings. Whilst DSE use is not thought to be associated with any long-term deterioration in eyesight, employers are obliged by law to offer DSE users an eye test if requested. This can be through issuing an eye care voucher or alternatively by arranging a test through a workplace healthcare scheme. Similarly, if workers are prescribed glasses specifically for DSE use, you are obliged to provide them with a basic pair of glasses.
Training and Information
Education is arguably the most powerful tool at your disposal. Conveying the importance of good DSE practices helps to ensure that your employees take this issue as seriously as you do, meaning they will be more proactive and responsible for their own health. Additionally, proper education about how they should arrange their workspace, how they should structure their day and any exercises they can perform throughout the day, will all help to protect their health. The Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 outline an employer’s responsibility to provide health and safety training to all DSE users.
Why are the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 Important?
The Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 are important because they protect the health and safety of your DSE users. As an employer it is your legal, as well as moral, responsibility to protect those who work for you. Failure to comply with the regulations could result in you being issued with an Improvement Notice, which will be followed by a number of progressively more severe penalties. In order to avoid these repercussions and to ensure your workplace is a safe and enjoyable place to work, it is vitally important that you embrace the legislation. Whilst the regulations outline the minimum expected health and safety standards surrounding DSE use, it can be beneficial to employers and workers alike to improve all areas of DSE use beyond what is expected.

Related Courses

Related Courses

The term dual screen means that there are two monitors connected to a single computer at the same time. The use of dual screens is increasing in prevalence across organisations in all sectors. However, certain types of workers (e.g. designers) reap more benefits than others. Increased productivity and ease of data comparison are just two of these fundamental advantages. Using any display screen equipment (DSE) poses a risk to workers’ health, including musculoskeletal problems, headaches, tired eyes and stress. Importantly, using dual screens increases these risks further and should therefore be treated with caution.
What are the Benefits of Using Dual Screens at Work?
Using dual screens can offer a whole host of benefits to your workforce. The main advantages can be whittled down to:

• Increased productivity
• Quick laptop integration
• Easy use of multiple programs at a time
• Easier comparison of data

Multiple studies have reported that the use of dual screens both increases productivity and reduces errors. Speeding up employees’ rate of work could save businesses an inordinate amount of money every year. Understandably, this is a highly attractive quality as time is a precious commodity.
Setting up an additional monitor with a laptop has become very easy when using most laptops. This can be beneficial for workers who are only using a workstation for a short period of time. Workers could quickly disconnect the extra monitor and take their laptop with them to their next job. This facilitates flexible working and hot desking.
Using dual screens makes it easier to run programs side by side. This is a particularly useful property for designers (amongst many other workers) who often use multiple programs simultaneously. Therefore, use of dual screens can increase efficiency and prevent workers wasting time in an unnecessary juggling act.
Easy comparison of data allows precise attention to detail which in turn results in a higher quality of work being produced. Instead of memorising information from one program to another, workers can have both running simultaneously, side by side, minimising the scope for mistakes.

What are the Dangers of Using Dual Screens at Work?
The most common health complications caused by using DSE are: musculoskeletal problems, tired eyes, headaches and stress. Using dual screens increases the risks of developing DSE-related health problems, especially visual discomfort as well as the health problems associated with increased twisting and stretching of the spine. However, proper set-up can mitigate this extra risk. Flicking your eyes between two separate monitors can result in both tired eyes and headaches. Whilst these are both risks prevalent when using a single monitor, they are enhanced through the regular use of two. The increased twisting and overstretching caused by a larger total screen span can result in musculoskeletal disturbances. The neck and lower back are particularly vulnerable to damage and can be the source of considerable discomfort and pain.
Setting up Dual Screens
It is important to set up your dual screen correctly as this helps avoid the health risks associated with using DSE. However, before choosing to use dual screens, you should first consider whether you could get by using a singular wide screen instead. This is preferable to a dual screen set-up as it comes with fewer health risks. If you choose to use dual screens, you should observe the following steps.

• First you should set your screens to the same resolution to prevent visual discomfort. This can be done in the control panel which is found in display settings. If you are struggling, you could ask IT for support.
• Next you should position the screens so that your head and neck are straight and your eyes are in line with the top of both screens. If one screen is smaller than the other (e.g. you are using a laptop) you can use a riser to lift it to the height of the other. This should reduce the need to bend or twist your neck.
• Once the heights are set for each monitor, you should slightly angle the outside edge of screen that you use least inwards. Again, this reduces the need for neck movements.
• To reduce back twisting, you should set up only one keyboard and mouse and ensure you position yourself at a straight rather than curved section of your desk.
• Finally, to set up your keyboard you must decide whether you use one screen more than the other or use them both equally. If you use one more than the other, the ‘H’ key should be positioned in line with the centre of the screen you use most. This should avoid twisting or overstretching your lower back.

Why is Dual Screen Training Important?
It is widely acknowledged that despite the benefits of using dual screens, their use increases the incidence of DSE-related health conditions. In order to facilitate safe use, it is important to train all dual screen users. Undertaking display screen equipment training encourages proper workstation set-up. Without this education workers may find themselves operating inadequate working environments and expose themselves to unnecessary health risks. Similarly, training can cultivate an increased understanding of DSE health risks. A proper understanding of the causes and consequences of these risks encourages workers to implement good practice when using DSE and look after their own health.

Related Courses