DSE Risk Assessment

Croner covers what Display Screen Equipment (DSE) is, workers' protection under DSE legislation, and conducting DSE risk assessments. Croner also provides a valuable DSE risk assessment template employers can download to assess and mitigate DSE risks. Access the download here.

As a business owner, you must protect your employees' health and safety. This is required by Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA 1974). 

In this article, Croner will cover employers’ health and safety duties when it comes to Display Screen Equipment (DSE). 

For support with risk assessments or workstation evaluations, call Croner's health and safety advice line today on 01455 858 132. Our award-winning Health & Safety team is ready to provide same-day assistance!

• What is DSE, and why is it important?
• What are the health risks of DSE?
• What are the regulations for DSE users?
• What are employer requirements regarding DSE?
• Should I have an internal DSE policy?
• What is a DSE risk assessment?
• Are DSE assessments a legal requirement?
• How do I conduct a DSE risk assessment?
• Download your DSE risk assessment template with Croner

What is DSE, and why is it important? 

DSE are devices or equipment with an alphanumeric keyboard and/or graphic display screen. These include PCs, tablets, laptops, monitors, and/or cellular devices. When used by workers over an extended period, DSE can cause strained vision and/or back and neck pain, as well as other health risks. 

Employers must legally protect worker health, and this duty includes the use of DSE. Remember, adhering to DSE regulations is not just a compliance exercise.

In fact, it improves employee wellbeing at work, increases staff motivation, and reduces absence. This is because there are several negative health conditions associated with using display screen equipment incorrectly for extended periods. DSE compliance also helps your employees produce good work by optimising their working environment for comfort and ultimately, productivity.

What are the health risks of DSE? 

The health issues and risks include: 

• Back pain 
• Eye strain 
• Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)  
• Work-Related Upper Limb Disorders (WRULDs)  

What are the regulations for DSE users? 

It is an employers’ legal duty to make their employees aware of the risks associated with display screen use. 

In 1992, the government introduced health & safety legislation addressing issues relating to Display Screen Equipment and employee health. The legislation came into force in The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. 

These regulations apply to workers who use display screen equipment (DSE) daily, for an hour or more at a time. As such, they extend to team members who: 

• Work at a fixed workstation 
• Are mobile workers 
• Are home workers 
• Are ‘Hot-desking’ (those who change desks regularly) 

To learn more about DSE regulations, visit the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

What are employer requirements regarding DSE? 

DSE regulations prescribed in the legislation above outline the minimum DSE requirements for employers to provide to applicable employees, including: 

• Conducting a DSE risk assessment for work environments to avoid poorly designed workstations. 
• Identifying and training display screen equipment users, including staff with disabilities and those who use DSE infrequently. 
• Reducing the risk to staff wherever possible and providing adequate breaks. 
• Providing eye tests when requested by staff members to avoid eye strain. 
• Reviewing risk assessments on a regular basis or when workspace changes occur. 

It is worth noting that DSE risk assessments must be undertaken for remote workers, and basic risk assessments should be conducted regularly for those in long-term DSE workstations to avoid incorrect and unsafe use. 

Should I have an internal DSE policy? 

Yes, having an internal DSE policy serves as a valuable Health & Safety protocol, as it formalises your roles and responsibilities as an employer: 

• It should include details for training and providing information to DSE users. 
• The aim of a DSE policy is to ensure you provide a safe, legally compliant workspace for employees who use equipment with display screens. 
• Your DSE policy should include how employees can request a new DSE workstation assessment if they feel their health may be suffering. 

It is important to highlight information relating to staff entitlements, including the right to request reasonable adjustments, eye tests, as well as how to report poor design in your company’s DSE policy. 

Need help updating your health and safety documentation? Give one of Croner’s specialists a call today for free, same-day assistance on 01455 858 132. 

What is a DSE risk assessment? 

DSE risk assessments help to protect worker health by assessing specific risks related to how they use Display Screen Equipment. This is why all UK employers are required to undertake these assessments. 

A DSE workstation risk assessment should identify the hazards each piece of equipment poses and suggest ways of eliminating or reducing them, even if the employee is working from home with their own equipment and/or hot-desking. Understand that your duty of care extends to staff even for remote workers. 

Remember:  

• If your workers use laptops, tablets, smartphones, touch screens, and/or PCs, you are legally required to undertake DSE risk assessments.  
• Full DSE risk assessments should be completed for each workspace/desk. 

Are DSE assessments a legal requirement? 

Yes, DSE risk assessments are a legal requirement; the Government requires all UK employers to perform a risk assessment for applicable devices. You should provide a suitable risk analysis of all employees who fall under the regulation requirement, which you can find here.

How do I conduct a DSE risk assessment? 

A suitable and sufficient DSE risk assessment would be one that not only identifies potential risks associated with workstations, equipment, operators, and interfaces, but also suggests ways of eliminating and/or reducing them.

As an employer, it is likely that you have conducted other types of risk assessments; DSE risk assessments function is the same general way. They begin by outlining the potential risks and then assessing them. 

When assessing DSE risks, you should consider the entire workstation and the various pieces of equipment the individual will use. For example: 

• Screen size
• Keyboard 
• Mouse 
• Chair 
• Desk 

Once you have identified any risks, address them in order of severity; in other words, from most serious to least serious. Then, suggest ways to mitigate and reduce each hazard. For example, if a computer screen is fixed in place, consider adding a mechanism to allow it to swivel and tilt to avoid neck strain. 

Finally, ensure you include staff in your assessment, as they will have a good idea of how their DSE is affecting them and will be able to raise issues you may be unaware of, which you can then address. 

Download your DSE risk assessment template with Croner 

To streamline your DSE risk assessment process, download Croner’s free DSE risk assessment form below. This template includes a list of the various employee health and wellbeing risks posed by DSE but does not provide a list of actions to take, as each workplace is different. Your solutions to the issues raised will need to be tailored to your specific workplace circumstances. 

UK law around risk assessments and the management of health and safety in the workplace, can be confusing. This is why we have a cost-effective health and safety advice service, where you can get free advice whenever you need it. 

Croner's services include providing expert health & safety advice. Give one of our health and safety consultants a call on 01455 858 132 for same-day support. 

Disclaimer: This template is provided ‘as is’ and Croner Group Ltd excludes all representations, warranties, obligations and liabilities in relation to the template to the maximum extent permitted by law. 

Croner Group Ltd is not liable for any errors or omissions in the template and shall not be liable for any loss, injury or damage of any kind caused by its use. Use of the template is entirely at the risk of the User and should you wish to do so then independent legal advice should be sought before use. 

Use of the template will be deemed to constitute acceptance of the above terms.