Assessing Display Screen Equipment

1. Assessing Display Screen Equipment Mark Mallen Health And Safety Manager Fenlock-Hansen Ltd Hansen – Managing Safely

2. Introduction • DSE? • Why am I here? Hansen – Managing Safely

3. Course Content • What is display screen equipment • Legal framework • Hazards • Potential health effects Hansen – Managing Safely

4. Course Content • Common misconceptions • Users • Those at risk • Conducting an assessment • Follow-up Hansen – Managing Safely

5. What Is Display Screen Equipment ? • Known as VDUs • Computer terminals  • Liquid crystal displays • Microfiche • Process control screens • Not televisions Hansen – Managing Safely

6. Legal Framework • The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 • the ‘VDU Regs’ • Part of the ‘six pack’ • Aim of preventing ill health • Imposes legal responsibilities and duties Hansen – Managing Safely

7. Legal Framework • Employers’ Duties • Assess risks • Provide a healthy workplace • Ensure workstations comply • Eyesight tests • Provide information, instruction and training Hansen – Managing Safely

8. Legal Framework • Employees’ duties • Follow the rules • Work safely • Report problems Hansen – Managing Safely

9. Hazards and Potential Health Effects • Hazards • Poor posture • Working for too long • Poor working environment • Poor management of workload Hansen – Managing Safely

10. Hazards and Potential Health Effects • Potential health effects • Visual discomfort • Upper limb disorders - RSI • Aches and pains • Stress Hansen – Managing Safely

11. Vision • Headaches • Visual fatigue • Sore • Irritated • Tired Hansen – Managing Safely

12. Vision • From • Working too long • Dry environment • Glare • Existing conditions Hansen – Managing Safely

13. Vision • Can aggravate existing conditions • Eyesight gradually worsens with age Hansen – Managing Safely

14. Vision • Contact lenses • A dry atmosphere • Blinking less Hansen – Managing Safely

15. Vision • Use the Hansen Eyecare scheme • Report problems to your supervisor • Seek medical advice Hansen – Managing Safely

16. Hansen’s Eye Care Scheme • Consistent with the DSE regulations • Eyesight tests • A pair of basic spectacles for DSE work  • Test may identify the cause of problems Hansen – Managing Safely

17. Hansen’s Eyecare Scheme • Follow the optician's advice • Wear any spectacles provided • Tests before starting DSE activities Hansen – Managing Safely

18. Musculoskeletal • General fatigue, aches and pains • Workstation problem • May indicate other problems Hansen – Managing Safely

19. Musculoskeletal • Many musculoskeletal disorders start with • Numbness • Tingling • Aching hands, fingers or limbs Hansen – Managing Safely

20. Musculoskeletal • May be aggravated by work • Or manifest at work • Backache may indicate poor posture Hansen – Managing Safely

21. Musculoskeletal • Long term • Problems may get worse • Don’t leave things Hansen – Managing Safely

22. Musculoskeletal • If you suffer discomfort, report it to your supervisor or manager • Seek medical advice as soon as possible Hansen – Managing Safely

23. Common Misconceptions • Do not give off harmful radiation • Do not cause complications during pregnancy • Source: national radiological protection board • Unlikely to induce epileptic seizures or fits • Do not damage eyesight Hansen – Managing Safely

24. Common Misconceptions • Any concerns • Seek medical advice Hansen – Managing Safely

25. Users and Those at Risk • Defined as • No alternative • Need significant training or particular skills • Use the display screen for continuous spells of an hour or more Hansen – Managing Safely

26. Users • Use the equipment most days • Have to input data quickly or accurately • Need high levels of concentration or undertake critical work Hansen – Managing Safely

27. Users • Hansen define regular users as • Either at least one-hour continuous work or • Two and a half hours accumulatively • Risk low if users follow safe working procedures Hansen – Managing Safely

28. High Risk Users • Working all day with a screen • Inputting • Word processing • A computer aided design (CAD) operator Hansen – Managing Safely

29. Moderate Risk Users • A secretary or personal assistant Hansen – Managing Safely

30. Low Risk Users • A salesperson that inputs daily sales figures • Somebody that does not use a DSE every day Hansen – Managing Safely

31. Not Users • A senior manager who uses the screen for brief enquiries Hansen – Managing Safely

32. Not Users • A receptionist, who occasionally, interrogates the screen for information Hansen – Managing Safely

33. Conducting an Assessment • Risk assessment • Each workstation • Trained assessors • A standard, company pro-forma • Reflecting an ‘ergonomic approach’ Hansen – Managing Safely

34. Ergonomics • Adapting the task to fit the worker • Adjust and use the equipment to individuals’ needs Hansen – Managing Safely

35. Ergonomics • User position • Equipment • Screen position • Environment • Software Hansen – Managing Safely

36. Conducting an Assessment •  Risk assessments may recommend • Wrist supports • Footrests • Other ergonomic measures • Changes to the workplace Hansen – Managing Safely

37. The Pro Forma • Fill in information at top of assessment record • Read the question in ‘risk factors’, if ‘yes’, assessment complete Hansen – Managing Safely

38. The Pro Forma • To satisfy the regulations, a ‘yes’ is required for questions in the ‘equipment factors’ section • If ‘no’ action is required Hansen – Managing Safely

39. The Pro Forma • If ‘no’, look in ‘help’ section • Try the solution • If it does not work, further action may be required • If further action is required • A purchase, put solution in ‘further action’ column Hansen – Managing Safely

40. The Pro Forma • If ‘no’, further action will be required • Enter action to be taken in ‘further actions’ column • Tick when action complete • If in doubt, ask Hansen – Managing Safely

41. Section 1 - the Display Screen • Positioned to suit the lighting and work • Glare can be irritating • Cause eye fatigue • Force users to adopt awkward postures • Move screen to eliminate reflections Hansen – Managing Safely

42. Section 1 - the Display Screen • Glare filters • Can reduce reflections • Affects quality • To be used as a last resort Hansen – Managing Safely

43. Section 2 - Keyboard Comfort • Positioning is important to overall comfort • Ideally, keyboard in front of the user • Gap, 50mm to 100mm • To rest the heels of the hands Hansen – Managing Safely

44. Section 2 - Keyboard Comfort • Move the chair • Fingers to rest comfortably on the keys • Wrists should not flex up or down • Adjust the angle of slope • Keyboard glare-free Hansen – Managing Safely

45. Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for Purpose  • Desk space • Things should be within easy reach • Stretching or reaching can cause stress and strain Hansen – Managing Safely

46. Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for Purpose  • Ideal position • Display screen and keyboard directly in front of the user  • Some tasks require more space in front of the user Hansen – Managing Safely

47. Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for Purpose  • Chair • A properly adjusted chair • Important to short term comfort • Long-term well being • Adjustable for height and back support Hansen – Managing Safely

48. Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for Purpose  • Poor posture can cause backache • Pain in the neck and shoulders • Working for long periods in an awkward position can cause fatigue in the short term  • Strain on the joints and muscles can cause harm in the long term Hansen – Managing Safely

49. Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for Purpose  • Personal comfort • Eyes should be level with the top of the VDU casing • Forearms horizontal with the keyboard Hansen – Managing Safely

50. Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for Purpose  • Armrests should not interfere with keying • Still allow the chair under the desk • Not a legal requirement • The space under the desk should be free from clutter, to allow ‘fidgeting’ Hansen – Managing Safely