Display Screen Equipment (DSE) - Assessment and Action

Richard FontanaPrincipal Officer - Food & Safety

Environmental Health & Consumer Protection Division

Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council

Format

• Duty to undertake a risk assessment

• Risk Assessment – What is suitable and sufficient ?

• Important Factors to Consider

• Further Guidance and Assistance

Overview of RegulationsManagement of Health and Safety at Work Regs 1999• Reg 3 – Undertake a suitable and sufficient assessment of risks to employees and

others

Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regs 1992• Reg 2: Analysis of workstations

- Reduce both safety AND health risks (referred to in appendix 2)

- Suitable and Sufficient

- Review when no longer valid or significant change

• Reg 3: Workstation minimum requirements- Refer to Schedule to Reg 3, and Appendix 1, DSE Regs

• Reg 4: Daily routine of users- Adequate breaks or changes of activity

Risk AssessmentSuitable and Sufficient?• Consider both safety and health risks, in particular:

- Musculoskeletal disorders- Stress- Fatigue- Eye and eyesight effects

- Hearing effects- Respiratory/vocal effects

• Total cases - caused or made worse by work MSD 1,126 000

Stress Related Illness 563 000

Breathing or lung problem 168 000

Hearing problems 87 000

Circulatory Disease 80 000

*Self-reported work related illness survey 2001/02 Estimated Prevalence (total number of cases), GB

Risk Assessment• SystematicSix core elements of a successful management programme.Six core elements of a successful management programme.

1. Senior management commitment2. Employee involvement3. Identification of problem jobs4. Development of solutions (control measures)5. Training and education6. Appropriate medical management

• Appropriate

• Comprehensive- workstation analysis results (equipment, furniture, software,

environment)- organisational and individual factors (workloads/working patterns, provision of breaks, meeting requirements of individual needs)

Risk AssessmentAssessment Format• Recorded

•Readily accessible

•Essential includes information provided by users

•Include ergonomic checklist? (e.g. Appendix 5 of Working with DSE Guidance)

•Can be generic for certain aspects of analysis e.g. types of equipment, similar tasks being performed BUT

Must retain flexibility to take into account individual risks

e.g.comfort, individual capabilities, health issues, hot desking, changes in workload or type of work etc

Risk AssessmentReview

• Significant change in workforce or individual capability

• Major change in software

• Major change in equipment

• Major change in workstation furniture

• Major change in task requirements

• Relocation or reorganisation of workstation

• Major changes to work environment

• Accident or incidents of ill health

Important Factors to Consider and Possible Action

Workstation Analysis + Requirements

- Refer to Schedule to Reg 3, and Appendix 1, DSE Regs

- Use VDU Workstation checklist – Appendix 5, DSE Regs

- Key is adjustability of workstation

- Take into account ALL operators who may use workstation

- Desk space adequate

- Storage space adequate – Work and Personal items

- Systems for repair/maintenance

- Specialist equipment allowance

- Take into account hot desking

Examples of Further Control Measures

- Sufficient stock of replacement items.

- Hold a range of different keyboards, chairs and mice to suit operator

- Provide sufficient lockable secure personal storage facilities.

- DSE Checklist for operators on logging onto computer

LA H&S Safety Enforcement

LA H&S Safety EnforcementDrivers for H&S EnforcementImportant Factors to Consider and

Possible ActionEnvironment

-Space – Reg 10, Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs 1992

11 cubic metres per person minimum.

-Consider changes in occupancy

-Layout

-Lighting/Heating/Ventilation/Humidity

-Noise

-Cleanliness

-Provision of rest room facilities

Examples of Further Control Measures

-Procedure in place for reporting unacceptable environmental conditions

-Consult staff on lighting levels, layout to prevent glare, local lighting

-Plenty of drinking water points available and encourage use

-Disinfectant wipes available for hygiene

-Acoustic screening

LA H&S Safety EnforcementDrivers for H&S EnforcementImportant Factors to Consider and

Possible Action

Job Design

• Work related stress – Culture, demands, communication, role, support

• Breaks and changes of activity

• Planning activities

• Level of control over activities

• Suitability of staff to their role

• Training and professional development

• Managing sickness absence

• Flexibility with personal demands

Examples of Further Control Measures

• Clear transparent policy on call monitoring – consult staff

• Flexibility for staff for following script or allowing personal control over what is said based on experience etc.

• Adequate time allowance between calls

• Employee Assistance programmes for reducing stress

LA H&S Safety EnforcementDrivers for H&S EnforcementImportant Factors to Consider and

Possible ActionSpecific Health Issues

• Hearing

-Acoustic protection/noise absorbers

-Microphone positioning, Headsets – limiters, types, hygiene

• Voice-Breaks, duration

-Drinks

-Colds – change job role

• Eyes-Screen - glare, cleanliness, location

-Breaks, duration

-Eye tests

• Musculoskeletal Disorders

-Workstation analysis requirements

Examples of Further Control Measures• Periodic on screen prompts to change posture, stretch, look away from screen

Choice of DSE Guidance

Aimed at large Aimed at large Practical guidancePractical guidance

employers, H&S employers, H&S with minimum ofwith minimum of

professionals.professionals. technical detail.technical detail.

Includes technical, Includes technical,

legal detail.legal detail.

LA H&S Safety EnforcementDrivers for H&S EnforcementChoice of DSE Guidance

• Working with VDU’s

Free HSE leaflet covers basic information on working with VDU

• Advice regarding call centre working practices

Free Guidance

Local Authority Circular Number: 94/1 rev

http://www.hse.gov.uk/lau/lacs/94-1.htm

• HSE Website HSE Website www.hse.gov.uk/msd

• Order copies of the guidance HSE books Order copies of the guidance HSE books www.hsebooks.co.uk

• NCCP libraryNCCP library

LA H&S Safety EnforcementDrivers for H&S Enforcement

Any Questions?