Display screen equipment and VDUs

The Health and Safety (display screen equipment) Regulations apply to computer terminals (VDUs), stand alone PCs or networked systems. They were brought into force to protect people who regularly use screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work (for example more than an hour most days and occasionally two or three hours).

People who spend more than two hours each day sat at a desk may experience headaches, neck and lower back pain, sore arms and shoulders or a combination of these problems.

Assess and Reduce Risk
As an employer you must assess the health and safety risks to your employees because of the use of display screen workstations. A risk assessment involves identifying the hazards and assessing the level of risk. You must reduce the identified risk to the lowest extent reasonably practicable. The assessment should be reviewed regularly.

As a minimum standard, the equipment should have:

• Good display with adjustable brilliance and contrast - set at a comfortable height and a separate tilting keyboard which allows use with the forearms held horizontally.
• The chair should have adjustable height and an adjustable back.
• Foot rests and document holders should be made available where needed.
• The office should be maintained at a comfortable temperature and humidity, with lighting arranged to avoid screen glare.
• There should be blinds for external windows.

Daily Work Routine
Work should be arranged so that users get regular breaks from screen/keyboard work - typically five to 10 minutes every hour.  However the length of break required is not set down in the law.

Eyes and Eyesight
Users should be given eye and eyesight tests by an ophthalmic optician or registered medical practitioner. If the tests show that corrective spectacles are needed for display screen work, you must provide the spectacles. Retests should be offered with a frequency as advised by the tester.

Training
Adequate health and safety training and information about the use of workstations must be provided - including the risks of fatigue and upper limb disorder. Training must be reviewed and provided again if the workstation is substantially modified.

Records should be kept for workstation assessments, eyesight tests and any information/training given.