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The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

 

These regulations cover the minimum health and safety requirements for the use of display screen equipment and are accompanied by a guidance note. They typically apply to computer with either a cathole ray tube or liquid crystal monitors. But any type of display is covered with some exceptions, for example on board a means of transport, or where the main purpose is for screening a film or for television. Multi media equipment would generally be covered.

Equipment that is not covered under these regulations or where it is not being used by a defined ‘user are covered under Health and Safety and the Provision and the Use of Work Equipment Regulations.

Definitions – Regulation 1

a) Display Screen Equipment (DSE) refers to any alphanumeric or graphic display screen, regardless of the display process involved

b) A user is an employee and an operator is a self employed person, both of whom use display screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work. Both would be people to whom most or all of the following apply.

A Person:

• Who depends on the display screen equipment to do their job
• Who has no discretion as to use or non use
• Who needs particular training and/or skills in the use of display screen equipment to do their job
• Who uses display screen equipment for continuous spell of hour or more at a time
• Who does so on more or less a daily basis
• Of whom a high level of attention and concentration is required, in particular to prevent critical errors

c) A workstation is an assembly compromising:

• Display screen equipment with or without a keyboard, software or input device
• Optional accessories
• Disk drives, telephone, modem, printer, document holder, chair, desk, work surface etc.
• The immediate working environment

Exemptions – Reg 1

Exemptions include display screen equipment used in connection with:

• Drivers’ cabs or control cabs for vehicles or machinery
• On board a means of transport
• Mainly intended for public operation
• Portable systems not in prolonged use
• Calculators, cash registers and small displays related to the direct use of this type of equipment
• Window typewriters

Assessment of Risk – Reg 2

Potential Hazards associated with Display Screen Equipment:

• Physical Problems
• Visual Fatigue
• Mental Stress

It is important to remember that these hazards are not unique to DSE and previous research has identified risks to the individual as low.

Employers must carry out a suitable and sufficient analysis of users and operators workstations in order to assess the risk to health and safety. Assessments should be reviewed when major changes are made to software, hardware, furniture, environment or work requirements.

Workstations – Reg 3

All workstations must meet the requirements laid down in the regulations, these regulations lay down the minimum requirements for Display Screen Equipment

Daily work routine of users – Reg 4

Activities of DSE uses should be planned to allow sufficient breaks to reduce prolonged time using DSE. It should be noted that short regular breaks are more effective than infrequent long ones and wherever possible breaks should be taken away from DSE.

Eyes And Eyesight – Reg 5

On request an employee has the right to request a free eyesight test conducted by a competent person where they:

• Are already users
• Before becoming a user

Eyesight test should then be provided at regular intervals or upon receiving notification from an employee that they are experiencing visual difficulties.

Employers should provide special corrective appliances to users where:

• Normal corrective appliances cannot be used
• The result of the eyesight test shows such a provision is necessary

Employers are free to nominate the users eyesight test and correction appliances are provided by a nominated company

Results from an eyesight test are classed a confidential information and can only be passed to an employer with the employee’s consent.

Training – Reg 6

As an employer you should ensure that adequate health and safety training is provided to users and potential users in the use of any workstation and refresh the training following any changes, the list below suggests a range of topics that should be covered in training :

• The recognition of hazards and risks, including the absence of desirable features and the presence of undesirable ones
• Causes of risk and how harm may occur
• What the user can do to correct them
• How problems can be communicated to management
• Information on the regulations
• The users contribution to assessments

Information – Reg 7

Operators and users should be provided with adequate information on all areas of health and safety relating to their workstation and what steps the employer has taken to comply with the regulations.