Display Screen Equipement

Display Screen Equipement Display Screen Equipment (DSE) or VDUs have been blamed, often wrongly, for a wide range of health problems. Only a small proportion of people using DSE suffer health problems as a result, but because there are so many users this can be a significant number of people. It is important to remember that in most cases the problems do not arise directly from the VDUs themselves, but from the way in which they are used. The problems can be avoided altogether by good workplace and job design and by the way the equipment and workstation are used. The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require employers to minimise some of the risks to health by ensuring that work places and jobs are well designed in the first place. Radiation Following research, and in the light of current knowledge, DSE monitors do not give out harmful levels of radiation. They give out both visible light (which enables us to see the screen) and other forms of electromagnetic radiation which can be harmful above certain levels. However the levels emitted from modern, well maintained monitors are well below the safe levels set out in international recommendations. Therefore employers do not have to check radiation levels from the DSE, and no other specialist equipment or devices are required to protect against radiation. If an employee is anxious about working with DSE or about work generally, especially during pregnancy, they should contact their doctor or talk to someone who is well informed of current authoritative scientific information and advice on DSE. Skin Disorders A small number of people have experienced irritation, skin rashes or had existing skin problems aggravated by the use of DSE. The exact cause is not known, but it seems possible that a combination of dry air, the electrostatic charge in the room, and individual susceptibility may be involved. If this is the case, reducing the electrostatic charge in the room and increasing the humidity may help. Epileptic Seizures Most people with epilepsy are completely unaffected. A small number of people who suffer from photosensitive epilepsy and are susceptible to flickering lights and striped patterns may be affected in some circumstances, but even they can often work successfully with DSE without provoking an attack. Anyone anxious about this who suffers from epilepsy should contact their doctor. Who is a "User"? These regulations require employers to minimise some of the risks outlined above by ensuring that workplaces and jobs are well designed in the first place. The regulations affect workers who habitually use DSE for a significant part of their normal work, and they are defined as "users." In some cases it will be clear that use of DSE is more or less continuous on most days and the employees concerned should be regarded as "users." Where use is less continuous or frequent, other factors connected with the job must be assessed. It would generally be appropriate to classify the person concerned as a "user" if most or all of the following criteria apply:-     The employee depends on the use of DSE to do the job, as alternative means are not readily available for achieving the same results; The employee has no discretion as to the use or non-use of DSE; The employee needs significant training and/or particular skills in the use of the DSE to do the job; The employee normally uses DSE for continuous periods of an hour or more at a time, whether or not these periods are broken by short breaks or changes of activity;    The employee uses the DSE in this way more or less daily; Fast transfer of information between the DSE worker and screen is an important requirement of the job; The performance requirements of the system demand high levels of attention and concentration by the DSE worker, for example, where the consequences of error may be critical. Employers have to analyse workstations of employees who are classified as "users" by the regulations, and assess and reduce the risks. Display Screen Equipment Risk Assessment is the form to be used for this purpose, and can be found at the end of this safety procedure. Workstation Requirements Employers have to ensure that all workstations meet minimum requirements. These are good features that should be found in a workstation. For example, the screen should normally have adjustable brightness and contrast controls. This allows individuals to find a comfortable level for their eyes, helping to avoid the problems of tired eyes and eye strain. The schedule of minimum requirements is shown at the end of this safety procedure, and provides further information on the minimum requirements for a workstation used by a "user" as required by the regulations. Breaks or changes of activity Work should be planned so that there are breaks or changes of activity. The length or number of these is not specified precisely in the regulations, as the need for breaks depends how intensely and for how long the employee has been using the DSE. Short, frequent breaks are better than longer, less frequent ones, and ideally the employee should have some discretion over when they are taken. Eye sight tests Employees who use DSE equipment can ask their employer to provide and pay for an eye/eye sight test and also for glasses if special ones are needed as a result of the eye sight test. These employees are also entitled to further tests at regular intervals. North Somerset Council has set a maximum contribution which includes glasses (or other corrective appliances) and the eye test. If a "user" has visual problems that may be related to work with DSE, they should discuss it with their line manager. A DSE eye test referral form, details of cost contribution and further information can be obtained from the Corporate Health and Safety Team. Please contact Nick Hancock on X 4755 for more details. Alternativly, click here for a Eye Sight Referrals Staff Instructions.pdf. Training for DSE users Employers are to provide health and safety training to make sure that employees can use all aspects of their workstation equipment safely, and know how to make best use of it to avoid health problems, for example by adjusting the chair. Within North Somerset Council this DSE health and safety training is provided during a half day internal training session. However, users who require further information may contact their manager or the Corporate Health and Safety Adviser. Information for DSE users Employers have a duty to provide information to employees who use DSE at work, in order to comply with the regulations. This is why it is important that all managers and administrators bring this safety procedure to the attention of all employees who are classified as "users", in order to meet the requirements of the regulations. Adjusting your workstation to suit you Everyone who uses a workstation whether classified as a "user" or not, should make full use of the adjustment facilities for the DSE and work environment to get the best from them and to avoid potential health problems. How to adjust the workstation is covered during the half day DSE health and safety training, and here are some further specific tips:-  Adjust your chair, keyboard, mouse and monitor to find the most comfortable position for your work. As a broad guide, your lower arms should be approximately horizontal when typing and your eyes at the same height as the top of the DSE monitor casing.  Make sure there is enough space underneath your desk to move your legs freely. Move any obstacles such as boxes or equipment.  Avoid excess pressure on the backs of the legs and knees. A footrest, particularly for small users, may be helpful.  Don't sit in the same position for long periods. Make sure you change your posture as often as practicable. Some movement is desirable, but avoid repeated stretching movements.  Adjust your keyboard and screen to get a good typing and viewing position. A space in front of the keyboard is sometimes helpful for resting the hands and wrists while not typing.  Don't bend your hands up at the wrist when typing. Try to keep a soft touch on the keys and don't over stretch your fingers. Good keyboard technique is important.  Try different layouts of keyboard, monitor and document holder to find the best arrangement for you.  Make sure you have enough workspace to take whatever documents you need. A document holder may help to avoid awkward neck movements and eye strain as a result of focusing from the source document to the monitor continually.  Arrange your desk and screen so that bright lights are not reflected in the screen. You should not be directly facing windows or bright lights. Adjust curtains or blinds to prevent unwanted light.  Make sure the characters on your screen are sharply focused and can be read easily. They should not flicker or move.   Make sure there are no layers of dirt, grime or finger marks on the screen. Use the brightness and contrast controls on the monitor to suit the lighting conditions in the room.  Ensure all cables are bundled and secured to prevent tripping hazards. This also helps to reduce the possibility of cables being pulled from their sockets and equipment damage. Use of portable computers Portable computers are becoming increasingly popular and unlike desk top equipment, do not have separate and adjustable monitors and keyboards. The keyboard is extremely compact, if not cramped, and often contains a miniaturised pointing device. The portable computer is not ergonomically friendly and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) does not regard them as suitable for prolonged use. Potential and actual hazards include unnatural posture, visual fatigue, lifting and carrying injuries, and risk of violence Unnatural posture When portable computers are used, the users are frequently observed sitting in very awkward postures in order to overcome the inability to have the keyboard at a comfortable level to use and the monitor at a comfortable height to view. Some people lean over the desk to use the computer and support their body weight with their arms. This results in abnormal curvature of the back, pressure on their forearms and forces them to flex their wrists upwards in order to operate the keyboard. Such a posture is highly likely to lead to back pain and, over time, musculoskeletal disorders of the forearm, wrist and hands, commonly known as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). Other people slouch backwards in their chairs in order to lower their eye level to that of the screen. Again this results in abnormal curvature of the back and elevation and stretching of the arms to reach the keyboard. Such posture is also likely to lead to back and shoulder pain and RSI over a period of time. Visual fatigue Some computer screens produce a fluid effect of the characters when scrolling up and down and when deletions and insertions are made. This can cause a feeling of nausea and visual confusion. If a person has an eye test and does not tell the optician that they use a portable computer, spectacles could be prescribed for use with a desktop computer rather than a portable one which is often used at different focal lengths to a desktop computer. An unsuitable prescription could result in prolonged visual fatigue. Lifting and carrying There is considerable scope for lifting and carrying injuries when travelling between locations with portable computer equipment. The Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 require employers to eliminate the need to lift and carry loads if at all possible or else to reduce it so far as is reasonably practicable. Risk of violence Portable computer users are also at risk when travelling and carrying what is obviously a computer satchel. A potential mugger will swiftly deduce that the satchel contains high value computer equipment. The situation is made worse if a person, particularly female, is travelling alone at night and perhaps also carrying other items. With their hands full they are very easy targets. Reducing the risks Ideally all portable computer users should be provided with a desktop computer. However, regard must be taken of the financial investment already made and consideration given to solutions that achieve a reasonable compromise. For example:     Docking stations could be provided so that the portable computer may be used with a desktop monitor, keyboard and mouse; An alternative solution would be to provide a normal keyboard and mouse together with a riser block to raise the level of the screen to eye level; Users should be encouraged to adjust their workstation to achieve a reasonable level of comfort; Users should recognise the potential harm that unnatural postures can cause and take reasonable steps to adopt more natural postures to reduce the likelihood of musculoskeletal injuries;  Users having eye tests for DSE work should explain that they use portable equipment rather than desktop, so as to ensure they receive the correct prescription spectacles;     Users should be trained in kinetic handling techniques if it is decided that they continue to carry portable computers and associated equipment extensively; That wheeled trolleys be provided when it is essential to transport the portable computer and its accessories together with files and other equipment; Sound procedures, based on risk assessment, should be in place for lone workers; Conventional briefcases should be used in preference to portable computer satchels to reduce the likelihood of being mugged Display Screen Equipment Schedule The following text is an extract from the HSE guidance on the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 and sets out the extent to which employers must ensure that workstations meet the requirements of the regulations. 1. An employer shall ensure that a workstation meets the requirements laid down in this schedule to the extent that:- a) those requirements relate to a component which is present in the workstation concerned; b) those requirements have effect with a view to securing the health, safety and welfare of persons at work; and c) the inherent characteristics of a given task make compliance with those requirements appropriate in respect of the workstation concerned.