Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
Overview
Working with display screen equipment is not generally considered to be a high risk activity, but it can lead to muscular and other physical problems, eye fatigue and mental stress. Problems of this kind can be overcome by good ergonomic design of equipment, furniture, the working environment and the tasks performed.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (DSE Regulations) apply to display screens where there is a "user", that is an employee who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of normal work, or an "operator", a self-employed person who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of normal work. The DSE Regulations cover equipment used for the display of text, numbers and graphics regardless of the display process used. There are some specified exclusions, such as systems on board a means of transport, systems mainly for public use, portable systems not in prolonged use, cash registers and window typewriters.
Employers have duties, under the DSE Regulations, to:
* Assess (the strict term used in the DSE Regulations is "analyse"). It must be "suitable and sufficient". Workstations ("Workstation" is taken to mean the display screen equipment and software, any optional accessory to the display screen equipment, any disk drive, telephone, modem, printer, document holder, work desk, chair, work surface or other item peripheral to the display screen equipment and the immediate work environment) used by either operators or users and reduce any risks which are discovered. This must be
carried out irrespective of who provided the workstation, provided it is used for the purpose of the employer’s undertaking. Therefore; a "user" who works part or full time from home, may have to have the workstation at home assessed by the employer even if it is the employee’s own workstation if it is used for the purpose of carrying out the employer’s work. Whereas, an "operator’s" workstation only has to be assessed if it is provided by the employer and is used for the purpose of the employer’s work. The assessment need only be reviewed if either there is reason to suspect that it is no longer valid, or there has been a significant change. (Regulation 2).
* Ensure that workstations satisfy minimum requirements which are set for the display screen itself, keyboard, desk and chair, working environment and task design and software. (Regulation 3).
* Plan display screen equipment work undertaken by users so that there are breaks or changes of activity so as to reduce the workload at the equipment. (Regulation 4).
* Provide information and training for display screen equipment users.
(Regulations 6 and 7)
Display screen equipment users, and those about to become users, are entitled to appropriate eye and eyesight tests by an optician or doctor upon request, and to special spectacles if they are needed and normal ones cannot be used. It is the employer's responsibility to provide such tests, and any special appliances that may be needed. Such tests must be repeated at regular intervals. Additionally, where a user experiences visual difficulties which may reasonably be considered to be caused by work on display screen equipment, his employer shall ensure that he is provided at his request with an appropriate eye and eyesight test.
It should be remembered that where a workstation does not fall under the definition of display screen equipment, or is excluded from the DSE Regulations or is not used by a user or an operator, then even though it does not have to be assessed under the DSE Regulations, it will still be covered by PUWER and subject to assessment under Regulation 3 of the MHSW Regulations.
The Schedule
The following table gives a brief outline of the topics covered in the Schedule of minimum requirements contained in the DSE Regulations. An employer must ensure that a workstation meets the requirements laid down in the Schedule to the extent that:
o The requirements relate to a component which is
present in the workstation.
o The requirements have effect with a view to securing
the health, safety and welfare of persons at work.
o The inherent characteristics of a given task make
compliance with the requirements appropriate.
Brief Outline of Minimum Requirements
Equipment Screen
Use must not be a source of risk for users and operators.
Well-defined screen characters.
Stable image.
Adjustable brightness and contrast.
Swivelling screen.
Screen free from reflective glare.
Keyboard
Tiltable keyboards
Sufficient space in front of keyboard to support hands.
Matt surface to keyboard.
Adequately contrasted symbols on keyboard.
Desk or Work Surface
Sufficiently large and low reflectance surface.
Stable and adjustable document holder.
Adequate space for users and operators to find a comfortable position.
Work Chair
Stable and allowing freedom of movement.
Adjustable height.
Adjustable seat back in both height and tilt.
A footrest available for any user or operator who requests one.
Environment Space
Sufficient space to allow for change of position.
Lighting
Appropriate contrast between the screen and background lighting.
Prevention of glare and reflection.
Reflections and Glare
Designed so that sources of light cause no direct glare or refection.
Adjustable covering fitted to windows.
Noise
Noise emitted should not distract attention or disturb speech.
Heat
Equipment should not produce excess heat which causes discomfort.
Radiation
Reduced to negligible levels.
Humidity
An adequate level shall be established and maintained.
Interface Systems
Must provide feedback on performance.
Must display information in a format and at a pace adapted to
users and operators.
Software
Must be suitable for the task.
Must be easy to use and, where appropriate, adaptable to the
level of knowledge or experience of the operator or user.
No quantitative or qualitative checking facilities to be used
without the knowledge of the operators or users.
The principles of software ergonomics must be applied.