Display screen equipment

You must assess the risks to employees (users) and self-employed contractors (operators) who work at employer workstations and regularly use display screen equipment like computers and laptops as a significant part of their normal work (daily for continuous periods of an hour or more).

Some workers may experience posture problems and pain, discomfort or injuries, eg to their hands/arms, from overuse or improper use or from poorly designed workstations or work environments. Headaches or sore eyes can also occur, for example if the lighting is poor.

What do I have to do?

• Identify what display screen equipment you have and which users and operators are covered
• Assess all workstations and ensure they meet the minimum requirements for them
• Plan the work so there are breaks or changes of activity
• On request, provide eye and eyesight tests and special corrective spectacles if they are necessary
• Provide training and information
• If they use ‘hot-desking’, workers will still need to check their workstation and adjust it to their requirements. It may be helpful to provide a checklist of what they need to consider, and this could be attached to the desk or workstation

Find out more

• Working with VDUs (Leaflet INDG36)
• More advice on MSDs and display screen equipment