Display Screen Equipment (DSE) or Visual Display Units (VDU) workstations are one of the most common tools in today’s office.  As with other equipment, overuse or incorrect use can lead to difficulties for operators.

Legislation

Part 2, Chapter 5 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations, 2007, is title “Display Screen Equipment”.

Regulation 72 requires employers to perform an analysis of the workstation in order to evaluate the safety and health conditions to which it gives rise for the employees, particularly as regards possible risks to eyesight, physical problems and problems of mental stress.  Each user needs to be assessed individually at their workstation.

Schedule 4 of the Regulations specifies the minimum requirements for the workstation, including equipment and environment.

DSE Risk Assessment

The Nifast approach involves:

• - The assessor reviewing the individual’s workstation layout and set-up, the environment and the work process.
• - The assessor providing on-the-spot advice to the user on how to set up the workstation and equipment.
• - Identifying whether additional ergonomic equipment is necessary.
• - Assessing environmental factors such as lighting, noise, temperature and humidity levels.

Report

The report will include details of the assessment of each workstation, including actions taken at the time, advice given to the user, environmental conditions and if appropriate recommendations (e.g. requirements for additional ergonomic equipment).

Where appropriate, photographs will be included in the report to illustrate hazards.

Do you need DSE Risk Assessments undertaken in your workplace?

• - Do you have employees using display screen equipment?
• - Have all users been assessed at their workstation?
• - Has new workstation equipment been provided in the workplace?
• - Do you review and update your DSE Risk Assessments regularly?