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What is a DSE Assessment?
DSE stands for ‘Display Screen Equipment’ and refers to desktop computers, laptops, VDUs, and other such equipment with a screen that displays information. DSE is widely used in many workplaces and indeed in many homes too. Someone who uses DSE for a significant part of their normal work is considered to be a ‘DSE user’.
The use of DSE is known to cause a number of ill-health effects, including neck, shoulder, back or arm pains, fatigue and eyestrain.
In the UK we have the Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (as ammended in 2002) to protect the health of people working with DSE. The Regulations, in brief, require employers to:
• Analyse workstations to assess and reduce risks
• Ensure workstations meet specified minimum requirements
• Plan work activities so that they include breaks or changes of activity
• Provide eye and eyesight tests on request, and special spectacles if needed
• Provide information and training
(Further details of these requirements can be read in this free guide from the HSE: Working with VDUs)
A DSE Assessment is the action of analysing a workstation to determine if anything further can be done to reduce the risk of ill-health caused by using DSE . The term ‘workstation’ refers to the DSE, software being used, keyboard, mouse, telephone, printer, desk, chair, and so on. Basically, if you put an imaginary bubble around the person and the equipment they are using, then everything inside that bubble needs to be considered in the assessment.
A DSE Assessment needs to be carried out for every workstation and reviewed on a regular basis – normally annually or after any significant changes. Organisations with large numbers of employees sometimes use a DSE Self-Assessment form, allowing staff to rate their own workstation for comfort.
DSE Assessments (including reviews of self-assessment forms) should be carried out by a competent person, sometimes known as a DSE Assessor. This is someone who has the necessary knowledge, experience and ability to effectively undertake a DSE Assessment, making reliable and valid conclusions to enable risks to be reduced. Some businesses call on external consultants to act as DSE Assessors, others train their own in-house personnel.
Hobday Safety Consultants offer both a DSE Assessor service and DSE Assessor training. DSE Assessor training can be provided in-house if your organisation has a group of people wishing to be trained together. Alternatively, we also offer regular half-day courses, open to anyone.
The use of DSE is known to cause a number of ill-health effects, including neck, shoulder, back or arm pains, fatigue and eyestrain.
In the UK we have the Health & Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 (as ammended in 2002) to protect the health of people working with DSE. The Regulations, in brief, require employers to:
• Analyse workstations to assess and reduce risks
• Ensure workstations meet specified minimum requirements
• Plan work activities so that they include breaks or changes of activity
• Provide eye and eyesight tests on request, and special spectacles if needed
• Provide information and training
(Further details of these requirements can be read in this free guide from the HSE: Working with VDUs)
A DSE Assessment is the action of analysing a workstation to determine if anything further can be done to reduce the risk of ill-health caused by using DSE . The term ‘workstation’ refers to the DSE, software being used, keyboard, mouse, telephone, printer, desk, chair, and so on. Basically, if you put an imaginary bubble around the person and the equipment they are using, then everything inside that bubble needs to be considered in the assessment.
A DSE Assessment needs to be carried out for every workstation and reviewed on a regular basis – normally annually or after any significant changes. Organisations with large numbers of employees sometimes use a DSE Self-Assessment form, allowing staff to rate their own workstation for comfort.
DSE Assessments (including reviews of self-assessment forms) should be carried out by a competent person, sometimes known as a DSE Assessor. This is someone who has the necessary knowledge, experience and ability to effectively undertake a DSE Assessment, making reliable and valid conclusions to enable risks to be reduced. Some businesses call on external consultants to act as DSE Assessors, others train their own in-house personnel.
Hobday Safety Consultants offer both a DSE Assessor service and DSE Assessor training. DSE Assessor training can be provided in-house if your organisation has a group of people wishing to be trained together. Alternatively, we also offer regular half-day courses, open to anyone.
Contact us now to find out more about our consultancy and training services.