Working Safely With Display Screen Equipment

1. Working Safely With Display Screen Equipment Mark Mallen Health And Safety Manager Fenlock-Hansen Ltd Hansen – managing safely

2. Hansen – managing safely

3. Please • Switch off or place on silent Hansen – managing safely

4. Introduction • DSE? • Why am I here? Hansen – managing safely

5. Course Content • Legal framework • Hazards and potential health effects • Users and those at risk • Setting up workstations • Using the workstation • Exercises • Summary 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 • Too long • Poor working environment • Poor management of workload Hansen – managing safely

10. Hazards And Potential Health Effects • Potential health effects • Visual discomfort • Sore • Irritated • Tired • Headaches • Upper limb disorders • Aches and pains • Stress Hansen – managing safely

11. Vision • Eyesight gradually worsens with age • Contact lenses • A dry atmosphere • Blinking less • Use the Hansen Eyecare scheme • Report problems • Seek medical advice Hansen – managing safely

12. Musculoskeletal • General fatigue, aches and pains • Workstation problem • May indicate other problems Hansen – managing safely

13. Musculoskeletal • Many musculoskeletal disorders start with • Numbness • Tingling • Aching hands, fingers or limbs Hansen – managing safely

14. Musculoskeletal • Long term • Problems may get worse • Don’t leave things • If you suffer discomfort • Report it • Seek medical advice asap Hansen – managing safely

15. Common Misconceptions • Do not give off harmful radiation • Cause complications during pregnancy • Source: national radiological protection board • Unlikely to induce epileptic seizures or fits • Discuss concerns with your doctor Hansen – managing safely

16. Common Misconceptions • Eyesight • Do not damage eyesight • Any concerns • Seek advice Hansen – managing safely

17. Users and Those at Risk • Defined as • Have no alternative • Need significant training or particular skills • Continuous spells of an hour or more • Use the equipment most days • Have to input data quickly or accurately • Need high levels of concentration or undertake critical work Hansen – managing safely

18. Users • Hansen define regular users as • Either at least one-hour continuous work or • Two hours accumulatively • Risk low if users follow safe working procedures Hansen – managing safely

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

20. Moderate Risk Users • A secretary or personal assistant Hansen – managing safely

21. Low Risk Users • A salesperson that inputs daily sales figures • Somebody that does not use a DSE every day Hansen – managing safely

22. Not Users • A senior manager who uses the screen for brief enquiries Hansen – managing safely

23. Not Users • A receptionist, who occasionally, interrogates a system Hansen – managing safely

24. Assessing the Risk • Assess each workstation • Trained assessors • Standard pro forma • ‘Ergonomic approach’ Hansen – managing safely

25. Setting Up Workstations • Ergonomics • Adapting the task to fit the worker • Adjust and use the equipment in an ergonomic way • No single, perfect workstation • Adjusted to individual’s requirements Hansen – managing safely

26. The Workstation • The chair • A footrest (if required) • HIDs • The display screen • The worktop Hansen – managing safely

27. The Workstation • A properly adjusted workstation • Comfortable and pleasant to use • Prevents ill health • May increase productivity Hansen – managing safely

28. Posture and Seating • Working in an awkward position • Short term • Aches, pains and fatigue • Long termharm • Strain on joints and muscles Hansen – managing safely

29. Seat Height and Tilt • Height • Forearms horizontal with the keyboard • Tilt (if fitted) • Thighs horizontal Hansen – managing safely

30. Seat Height and Tilt • Feet flat on the floor or footrest • Weight on buttocks • Not thighs Hansen – managing safely

31. Back Support • Should fit the curve of the spine • Adjust the angle (if possible) • Upright posture • Erect head and relaxed shoulders • Varying position helps avoid stiffness Hansen – managing safely

32. Arm Rests • Personal preference • May be beneficial • Should not interfere with keying • Should allow the chair under the desk • Not a legal requirement Hansen – managing safely

33. Chair Position • Allow room • Prevent stiffness • Do not store items under the desk • If the desk is not height adjustable • Set the chair for the best keyboard height Hansen – managing safely

34. Posture and Seating • In summary • Head up • Back straight • Lower back supported • Shoulders back • Forearms level with the desk • Wrists relaxed • Feet flat on the floor or on the footrest Hansen – managing safely

35. Keyboard • Directly in front of the user • Gap to rest the heels of the hands • Fingers comfortably on the keys • Adjust the angle of slope • Position devices • Do not stretch too far Hansen – managing safely

36. ‘Mouse Work’ • Comfortable and convenient position • Move keyboard until it is required • Device used most often to the front • Adjust the controls to personal preference Hansen – managing safely

37. Keyboard and Mouse Work • Caution, with extreme concentration • Users may become fixated • Ignore arm and hand position • Causing cramp and wrist strain Hansen – managing safely

38. The Display Screen • Adjust to suit workplace lighting • Moving the screen may eliminate reflection • Check the screen for glare or reflections Hansen – managing safely

39. The Display Screen • Glare • Can be irritating • Cause eye fatigue • Force users to adopt awkward postures Hansen – managing safely

40. The Display Screen • Face the screen looking slightly down • The top of the screen slightly below eye height • Viewing distance between 350mm and 750mm Hansen – managing safely

41. The Display Screen • Tilted at right angles to the line of sight • Check refresh rate, 80hz • Adjust the brightness and contrast • Re-adjust if light levels change • Large screens need more desk space,readjust Hansen – managing safely

42. The Display Screen • Keep the screen clean • Degrades the image • Highlights glare • May make reasonably positioned screen difficult to use Hansen – managing safely

43. Glare Filters • Can reduce reflections • May affect quality • Use where moving a screen or light source cannot reduce glare • Should only be used as a last resort Hansen – managing safely

44. Housekeeping • Everything within easy reach • Stretching or reaching can cause stress and strain Hansen – managing safely

45. Housekeeping • Keep cables under control to prevent tripping • Store work and personal items out of the way • Keep the work area free from clutter • Keep papers under control on the desk • A tidy desk is a healthy desk Hansen – managing safely

46. Adjusting Workstations • Ideal position • Display screen and keyboard • Directly in front of the user • Some tasks require more space in front • Some touch typists prefer a document holder • Prevents users frequently moving their heads Hansen – managing safely

47. Using the Workstation • The risks from using DSE • Working for too long in one position • Working with a poor posture • Working for too long without a break Hansen – managing safely

48. Most at Risk • Inputting large amounts of data within limited time scales • Data input clerks • Word processor operators • CAD operators Hansen – managing safely

49. Reducing the Risk • Regularly change posture • Manage the workload • Take regular breaks • About 5-10 minutes in every hour • Break up the screen work throughout the day Hansen – managing safely

50. Reducing the Risk • Guidance from the regulations • Breaks of 5 - 10 minutes, every 50 - 60 minutes • Frequent short breaks • If not • Change position regularly • Stand • Flex your body Hansen – managing safely