The Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

Display Screen Equipment means any alphanumeric or graphic display screen, regardless of the display process involved. A Display Screen Equipment (DSE) user refers to an employee who habitually uses DSE: this is classified as being covered by the following:

• Where the job cannot be done without DSE;
  
• The user has no discretion over whether to use DSE; and
  
• The user uses DSE for periods of an hour or more at a time, more or less on a daily basis.

WORKSATION ANALYSIS (Regulation 12) - The employer must perform a suitable and sufficient analysis of the users workstation. This will include the Visual Display Unit (VDU), peripherals items such as telephone, printer, lamp and document holder, the work surface, chair and other office furniture, and the environment around the workstation.

The analysis should include:

The Screen With well defined characters; A stable image; Matt surface to avoid glare; Free from glare and reflections; At an appropriate height.		The Keyboard Separate from the screen; Tiltable; Matt surface to avoid glare; Adequate support to provide hand and arm support.
The work Surface Large enough for the task; Sufficient for a comfortable working position and able to accommodate a flexible arrangement of equipment; A footrest must be made available on request.		The Chair Stable; Allow freedom of movement; Adjustable height; Back rest adjustable in height & angle of tilt.

WORK ROUTINE (Regulation 4) - The employer must plan the daily work routine in such away as to incorporate periodic interruption by breaks or changes in activity, short frequent breaks are more satisfactory than long frequent ones.

EYESIGHT (Regulation 5) - This entitles a user to an appropriate eye and eyesight test: the employer must provide corrective appliances (spectacles) if needed for DSE work.

Produced by the GMB, London Region,
Thorne House, 152 Brent Street, Hendon. NW4 2DP
Tel: 020 8202 8272
Fax: 020 8202 2893