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DSE Assessment

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessments Explained by Acorn Health & Safety

The use of Display Screen Equipment (DSE) such as computers, laptops, smartphones and tablet PCs is one of the most common work activities in the UK today. Although it does not carry as high a risk as activities such as manual handling or working with Asbestos, it is still not without risk. A high proportion of DSE users complain of repetitive strain injury, muscle ache and back pain.

Display screen technology is common in all aspects of our lives.  Our exposure to these devices continues to increase, with reported levels of up to 9 hours per day spent consuming media on a display screen device. While the musculoskeletal (MSD) risks from such devices are quite low, the exposure does mean that the effects of preventable risks such as poor posture can lead to problems. Data from the general practitioners’ scheme (THOR-GP) suggests “keyboard work” is a significant contributor to both lower back and upper limb disorders.

Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, employers have a responsibility to identify all DSE users and carry out appropriate analysis of their work-stations.  Workstations must meet the criteria laid out in the schedule to the above regulations.

All DSE users should have their workstations analysed annually, or in other words, risk assessed. The risk assessment may be carried out by the DSE user themselves as long as they have received a briefing on how to carry it out.

One way to ensure that everyone affected completes the task correctly is to have a training session where all users complete the assessment together under the guidance of a competent person. It should identify areas of significant risk and control measures to be taken and should cover at least the following areas:

  • Lighting including window glare and screen contrast
  • Background noise
  • Legroom and clearances with footrest and chair to be stable
  • Software: appropriate to task, adapted to the user,
  • Hardware: usable, adjustable,
  • Work surface with space for equipment and documents

Users should also be encouraged to report any symptoms that they are currently experiencing so they can be investigated as part of the assessment.

Once the assessments have been completed, they need to reviewed and areas of concern. Typical areas of concern would include:

  • A requirement to sit at the workstation for in excess of one hour
  • Inability to adjust workstation to suit the user
  • Poor lighting or excess glare causing eye strain
  • Sitting in a position exposed to draughts
  • Inability to adjust workstation to suit the user
  • Incorrect posture or workstation set up

The majority of control measures are straightforward and inexpensive to implement, such as providing additional equipment in the form of footrests or wrist rests.

However, one of the most effective ways to reduce risk is through training.  Educate your employees about the reasons for DSE assessments and the type of symptoms that might occur through poorly set up workstations. This training should include how to:

  • Adjust the furniture positions
  • Organise workloads so that they can flit between sitting at their desks with getting up to go to printer or photocopier for example
  • Clean the screen and mouse
  • Organise their workspace
  • Identify who they need to speak to should they start suffering from DSE related symptoms. The earlier they are reported the easier it is to prevent lost working time due to DSE use.

You can also download the HSE’s DSE Checklist to help you to carry out the risk assessments

Acorn Health & Safety offer display screen equipment (DSE) e-learning courses that are aimed at users of and those responsible for assessing DSE, this could be anything from laptops, tablet PCs, televisions, smartphones, CNC control pads, portable diagnostic screens, equipment containing cathode ray tubes or CRTs.

We have consciously chosen a provider whose courses are externally accredited by ROSPA, and we like the fact that the training is presented using a blended approach. We offer 2 e-learning display screen equipment courses:

Display screen equipment awareness: As the delegate, you set the pace to this course which has 8 modules in total and each module concludes with some relevant questions. The pass rate for these questions is 70%:

  • Introduction
  • Legislation
  • Protecting your body
  • Adjusting your chair
  • Adjusting your screen
  • Work arrangements
  • Adjusting the layout of your workstation
  • Adjusting your work environment

Assessing display screen equipment: As the delegate, you set the pace to this course which has 15 modules in total and each module concludes with some relevant questions. The pass rate for these questions is 70%:

  • Introduction
  • Legislation
  • Protecting your body
  • Adjusting your chair
  • Adjusting your screen
  • Work arrangements
  • Adjusting the layout of your workstation
  • Adjusting your work environment
  • Risk assessment overview
  • Principles of sensible risk management
  • Key health and safety legislation
  • DSE hazards and risks
  • DSE Assessments
  • Control and prevention strategies
  • Practical element

Purchase your E-learning licence here