DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT

JRL Solutions Ltd carries out display screen equipment assessments. Using display screen equipment can cause a range of health problems.

Employers have various duties under legislation including the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment Regulations) 1992.

These duties are to:-

• Analyse workstations to assess & reduce risks to users and operators
• Review the assessments when there are significant changes or if the original assessment is no longer valid
• Ensure workstations meet minimum requirements
• Plan work activities so that they include periodic breaks or  changes of activity
• Provide eye and eyesight tests on request and special spectacles if needed
• Provide information and training

"workstation" means:-

• display screen equipment
• any optional accessories to the display screen equipment
• any disk drive, telephone, modem, printer, document holder, work chair, work desk, work surface or other item peripheral to the display screen equipment
• the immediate work environment around the display screen equipment

"user" means:-

• an employee who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of his normal work

The analysis must be carried out by a competent person and be suitable and sufficient. To be suitable and sufficient it should identify the hazards at the workstation; identify the persons exposed to those hazards including those at particular risk; take into account the current control measures; evaluate the risk of injury or ill health; identify the additional control measures necessary; record the significant findings and review the analysis when the analysis is no longer valid.

JRL Solutions Ltd is competent to carry out the analysis of workstations to assess & reduce risks to users and operators.

The minimum requirements are in the following areas, each of which has its own particular standards which may need to be met :-

• the display screen
• the keyboard and other input devices
• the work desk or work surface
• the work chair
• the environment in which the workstation is located including temperature, humidity, ventilation and lighting
• the space at and surrounding the workstation
• the interface between the user and the workstation including software ergonomics

All users should be trained with a syllabus that includes:-

• the risks from DSE work
• the importance of good posture and changing position
• how to adjust furniture to help avoid risks
• organising the workplace to avoid awkward or frequently repeated stretching movements
• avoiding reflections and glare on or around the screen
• adjusting and cleaning the screen and mouse
• organising work for activity changes or breaks
• who to contact for help and to report problems or symptoms
• contributing to the risk assessment, eg completing checklists
• eyesight testing arrangements.

In addition to the analysis of worksations JRL Solutions Ltd can provide this training of users if required

Using display screen equipment can cause a range of health problems. These include:-

• eye strain and eye fatigue
• work related upper limb disorders including carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, tendinitis, De Quervains syndrome and ganglions
• musculoskeletal aches and pains including back ache, shoulder ache and neck ache
• fatigue and stress
• photosensitive epilepsy
• facial dermatatis