DSE Explained

Written By Helen Griffiths | Sep 1st, 2008 | | | Category: Ask An Expert

What do employers have to do to comply with the Display Screen Equipment Regulations?

To comply with the Regulations employers have to:

Analyse workstations, and assess and reduce risks.

Employers will need to look at:

the whole workstation including equipment, furniture, and the work environment;
the job being done; and
any special needs of individual staff.

Employees and safety representatives should be encouraged to take part in risk assessments, e.g. by reporting health problems. Where risks are identified, the employer must take steps to reduce them.

Can display screen equipment (DSE) affect a user’s health?

Only a small proportion of DSE users experience any ill health as a result of their work. Where problems do occur, they are generally caused by the way in which the equipment is being used, rather than the display screen itself. Problems can be avoided by good workplace design and by the way you use your workstation.

What is the difference between RSI and upper limb disorders?

They basically refer to the same conditions, although the term repetitive strain injury (RSI) is used by some to refer to pain in the arm when working with computers. The term upper limb disorders (ULDs) covers a range of medical conditions. The general term ULD is now preferred because problems might not be due to strain and there may not be any sign of injury.

How can ULDs be successfully managed in the workplace?

ULDs can be successfully managed by:

Assessing the risks - this means looking around your workplace to see which display screen equipment has the potential to cause harm.
Reducing the risk of ULDs - change the way employees work at their workstation if a risk is identified.
Involving workers and their safety representatives early and at every stage.
Providing information and training to all display screen equipment users.

For more information on DSE, take a look at our new DSE - The Facts DVD