Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Transcript Of Display Screen Equipment (DSE)
Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessment Questionnaire
User’s Name
User’s Job Title
User’s Location
Asset Number of VDU
Assessor’s Name
Further Action Required
Date of Assessment
One of the following four options must be ticked alongside each option:
No Action – Workstation is satisfactory on this element, or not applicable Training – To be provided at the time of assessment or at a later agreed date Equipment – To be provided or adjusted as per summary at end of report Management – Manager needs to assess work, e.g. volume, planning
Equipment
1. DISPLAY SCREEN A Is the image on the VDU clear and free from flicker, jitter or glare? B Can the screen controls be adjusted? e.g. contrast, brightness C Can the screen be tilted? D Can the screen swivel? E Is the screen clean? F Is the text size comfortable? G Is the screen free from glare or reflections (maybe achieved by moving or tilting the screen)?
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Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Equipment
H Are window blinds provided and in good repair?
2. KEYBOARD a Is the keyboard moveable, having a separate numerical keypad and slight adjustable slope? b Are the characters on the keys easily readable?
C Is the keyboard clean? D Is it possible to find a comfortable
keying position? E Is a wrist-rest available if
required? F Does the user have good
keyboard techniques?
MOUSE, TRACKBALL ETC A Is the device suitable for the tasks used? B Is the device positioned close to the user? C Is there support for the user’s wrist and forearm? D Does the device work smoothly at a speed that suits the user?
FURNITURE a Is the work surface large enough for all the necessary equipment, papers etc? b Are the surfaces free from glare and reflection? c Is the chair stable, and is there a 5-star base with working castors? d Is the chair adjusted properly (seat back height and tilt, seat height)? e Is the small of the back supported by the chair’s backrest? f Does the chair swivel freely, and can the height be adjusted? g If the chair has arms, do these hinder its movement? h If necessary, is an adjustable footrest provided?
2
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Environment
a Is the floor free from clutter and trailing cables?
b Is the lighting in the workplace and at the desk suitable (not too dim and not too bright)?
c Is there enough room to change position and vary movement?
d Does the air feel comfortable? e Are the levels of heat
comfortable? f Are the noise levels in the work
area comfortable?
Posture
a Is there enough space in front of the keyboard to rest the wrists?
b Can the user comfortably reach all the equipment and papers they need to use?
c Is the workstation generally comfortable, and does it accommodate postural change?
d If necessary, is a positionable document holder provided?
e Are panels/screens required around the desk?
Work Pattern
a Is your work pattern designed so that there are regular periods away from the screen?
b Is there sufficient variety in the work pattern?
c Are users aware of arrangements for eye and eyesight test provision?
d Is the computer hardware being used adequate for the tasks in hand?
e Is the computer software being used adequate for the tasks in hand?
F Are users aware of any monitoring that takes place?
3
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Environment
g Is the workstation electrically safe with all items having up-to-date test labels?
Is the workstation satisfactory? If not, then complete summary here and recommend action
Date of Review if necessary Signature of Assessor
4
ADVICE TO DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT USERS BEST PRACTICE ADVICE
(Extract from “working with VDU’s” - Health and Safety Executive)
Getting comfortable Adopting a good ergonomic position helps eliminate or minimise problems encountered with VDU use.
Adjust your chair and VDU to find the most comfortable position for your work. As a broad guide, your forearms should be approximately horizontal and your eyes the same height as the top of the VDU. Make sure you have enough work space to take whatever documents or other equipment you need. Try different arrangements of keyboard, screen, mouse and documents to find the best arrangement for you. A document holder may help you avoid awkward neck and eye movements.
5
Arrange your desk and VDU to avoid glare, or bright reflections on the screen. This will be easiest if neither you nor the screen is directly facing windows or bright lights.
Adjust curtains or blinds to prevent unwanted light.
Make sure there is space under your desk to move your legs freely. Move any obstacles such as boxes or equipment.
Avoid excess pressure from the edge of your seat on the backs of your legs and knees. A footrest may be helpful, particularly for smaller users.
Keying in
Adjust your keyboard to get a good keying position. A space in front of the keyboard is sometimes helpful for resting the hands and wrists when not keying.
Try to keep your wrists straight when keying. Keep a soft touch on the keys and don’t overstretch your fingers. Good keyboard technique is important.
Using a mouse
Position the mouse within easy reach, so it can be used with the wrist straight. Sit upright and close to the desk, so you don’t have to work with your mouse arm stretched. Move the keyboard out of the way if it is not being used.
Support your forearm on the desk, and don’t grip the mouse too tightly.
Rest your fingers lightly on the buttons and do not press them hard.
Reading the screen
Adjust the brightness and contrast controls on the screen to suit lighting conditions in the room.
Make sure the screen surface is clean.
In setting up software, choose options giving text that is large enough to read easily on your screen, when you are sitting in a normal, comfortable working position. Select colours that are easy on the eye (avoid red text on a blue background, or viceversa).
Individual characters on the screen should be sharply focused and should not flicker or move. If they do, the VDU may need servicing or adjustment.
6
Posture and breaks 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 to reach things you need (if this happens a lot, rearrange your workstation). Most jobs provide opportunities to take a break from the screen, e.g. to do filing or photocopying. Make use of them. If there are no such natural breaks in your job, your employer should plan for you to have rest break. Frequent short breaks are better than fewer long ones.
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ADVICE TO DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPEMNT USERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Extract from “Working with VDU’s” - Health and Safety Executive)
1. Am I at risk?
VDUs have been blamed - often wrongly - for a wide range of health problems. In fact, only a small proportion of VDU users actually suffer ill health as a result of their work. Where problems do occur, they are generally caused by the way in which VDUs are being used, rather than the VDUs themselves. So problems can be avoided by good workplace and job design, and by the way you use your VDU and workstation.
2. Are aches and pains caused by using a VDU? What about ‘RSI’?
Some users may get aches and pains in their hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back, especially after long periods of uninterrupted VDU work.
‘Repetitive strain injury’ (RSI) has become a popular term for these aches, pains and disorders, but can be misleading - it means different things to different people.
A better medical name for this whole group of conditions is ‘upper limb disorders’. Usually these disorders do not last, but in a few cases they may become persistent or even disabling.
3. How can I avoid these aches, pains and disorders? Problems of this kind may have a physical cause, but may also be more likely if a VDU user feels stressed by the work (see next question). If you get aches or pains you should alert your supervisor or line manager.
Problems can often be avoided by good workplace design, so that you can work comfortably, and by good working practices (like taking frequent short breaks from the VDU).
Prevention is easiest if action is taken early, before the problem has become serious.
For more information please refer to Working with VDU’s (HSE website)
8
4. Can VDU work cause headaches?
Headaches may result from several things that occur with VDU work, such as: ■ screen glare; ■ poor image quality; ■ a need for different spectacles; ■ stress from the pace of work; ■ anxiety about new technology; ■ reading the screen for long periods without a break;
5. Can work with VDUs affect eyesight?
Extensive research has found no evidence that VDUs can cause disease or permanent damage to eyes. But long spells of VDU work can lead to tired eyes and discomfort. Also, by giving your eyes more demanding tasks, it might make you aware of an eyesight problem you had not noticed before. You and your employer can help your eyes by ensuring your VDU is well positioned and properly adjusted, and that the workplace lighting is suitable.
6. What about problems with my contact lenses or bifocals?
The heat generated by computers and other equipment can make the air seem drier, and some contact lens wearers find this uncomfortable. If you have this problem but don’t want to change to spectacles, you can try blinking more often or using tear substitute drops. Where the air is dry, employers can help by taking steps to increase the humidity. People with bifocal spectacles may find them less than ideal for VDU work. It is important to be able to see the screen easily without having to raise or lower your head. If you can’t work comfortably with bifocals, you may need a different type of spectacles.
7. How long should I work with a VDU?
There is no legal limit, but you need to break up long spells of VDU work. How long you should work without a break depends on the type of work you are doing, but on average you should aim to take a VDU break for 5 minutes in every hour of continual use.
8. Do VDUs give out harmful radiation?
No. VDUs 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 of radiation emitted from VDUs are well below the safe levels set out in international recommendations. So your employer doesn’t have to check radiation levels from your VDU, and you do not need any special devices such as spectacles, screens or aprons when using it.
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9. What should I do if I’m pregnant?
You don’t need to stop working with VDUs. Past concern, about reports of miscarriages and birth defects among some groups of VDU workers, has not been borne out by more recent research. Many scientific studies have now been carried out and, taken as a whole; these do not show any link between miscarriages or birth defects and working with VDUs.
If you are anxious about your VDU or about work generally during pregnancy, you should talk to your manager or occupational health.
10. Can working with VDUs cause skin disorders?
This is rare. A few people have experienced irritation, rashes or other skin problems when working with a VDU. The exact cause is not known, but it seems possible that a combination of dry air, static electricity and individual susceptibility may be involved. If this is the case, increasing the humidity or allowing more fresh air into the room may help.
11. Can VDUs trigger epileptic fits?
Most people with epilepsy are completely unaffected by VDUs. A few 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 VDUs without provoking an attack.
12. I use a portable computer - are there any precautions I should take?
Laptops and other portables have to be compact and easy to carry. The resulting design features, like small keyboards, can make prolonged use uncomfortable, unless steps are taken to avoid problems, e.g. by using a docking station. It is best to avoid using a portable on its own if full-sized equipment is available. And like other VDU users, people who habitually use a portable should be trained how to minimise risks. This includes sitting comfortably, angling the screen so it can be seen clearly with minimal reflections, and taking frequent breaks if work is prolonged. Wherever possible, portables should be placed on a firm surface at the right height for keying.
13. Is it true that using a mouse can cause problems?
Intensive use of a mouse, trackball, or similar pointing device may give rise to aches and pains in the fingers, hands, wrists, arms or shoulders. This can also happen with a keyboard, but mouse work concentrates activity on one hand and arm (and one or two fingers), and this may make problems more
10
User’s Name
User’s Job Title
User’s Location
Asset Number of VDU
Assessor’s Name
Further Action Required
Date of Assessment
One of the following four options must be ticked alongside each option:
No Action – Workstation is satisfactory on this element, or not applicable Training – To be provided at the time of assessment or at a later agreed date Equipment – To be provided or adjusted as per summary at end of report Management – Manager needs to assess work, e.g. volume, planning
Equipment
1. DISPLAY SCREEN A Is the image on the VDU clear and free from flicker, jitter or glare? B Can the screen controls be adjusted? e.g. contrast, brightness C Can the screen be tilted? D Can the screen swivel? E Is the screen clean? F Is the text size comfortable? G Is the screen free from glare or reflections (maybe achieved by moving or tilting the screen)?
1
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Equipment
H Are window blinds provided and in good repair?
2. KEYBOARD a Is the keyboard moveable, having a separate numerical keypad and slight adjustable slope? b Are the characters on the keys easily readable?
C Is the keyboard clean? D Is it possible to find a comfortable
keying position? E Is a wrist-rest available if
required? F Does the user have good
keyboard techniques?
MOUSE, TRACKBALL ETC A Is the device suitable for the tasks used? B Is the device positioned close to the user? C Is there support for the user’s wrist and forearm? D Does the device work smoothly at a speed that suits the user?
FURNITURE a Is the work surface large enough for all the necessary equipment, papers etc? b Are the surfaces free from glare and reflection? c Is the chair stable, and is there a 5-star base with working castors? d Is the chair adjusted properly (seat back height and tilt, seat height)? e Is the small of the back supported by the chair’s backrest? f Does the chair swivel freely, and can the height be adjusted? g If the chair has arms, do these hinder its movement? h If necessary, is an adjustable footrest provided?
2
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Environment
a Is the floor free from clutter and trailing cables?
b Is the lighting in the workplace and at the desk suitable (not too dim and not too bright)?
c Is there enough room to change position and vary movement?
d Does the air feel comfortable? e Are the levels of heat
comfortable? f Are the noise levels in the work
area comfortable?
Posture
a Is there enough space in front of the keyboard to rest the wrists?
b Can the user comfortably reach all the equipment and papers they need to use?
c Is the workstation generally comfortable, and does it accommodate postural change?
d If necessary, is a positionable document holder provided?
e Are panels/screens required around the desk?
Work Pattern
a Is your work pattern designed so that there are regular periods away from the screen?
b Is there sufficient variety in the work pattern?
c Are users aware of arrangements for eye and eyesight test provision?
d Is the computer hardware being used adequate for the tasks in hand?
e Is the computer software being used adequate for the tasks in hand?
F Are users aware of any monitoring that takes place?
3
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Ye s N o No Action Training Equipment Management
Environment
g Is the workstation electrically safe with all items having up-to-date test labels?
Is the workstation satisfactory? If not, then complete summary here and recommend action
Date of Review if necessary Signature of Assessor
4
ADVICE TO DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT USERS BEST PRACTICE ADVICE
(Extract from “working with VDU’s” - Health and Safety Executive)
Getting comfortable Adopting a good ergonomic position helps eliminate or minimise problems encountered with VDU use.
Adjust your chair and VDU to find the most comfortable position for your work. As a broad guide, your forearms should be approximately horizontal and your eyes the same height as the top of the VDU. Make sure you have enough work space to take whatever documents or other equipment you need. Try different arrangements of keyboard, screen, mouse and documents to find the best arrangement for you. A document holder may help you avoid awkward neck and eye movements.
5
Arrange your desk and VDU to avoid glare, or bright reflections on the screen. This will be easiest if neither you nor the screen is directly facing windows or bright lights.
Adjust curtains or blinds to prevent unwanted light.
Make sure there is space under your desk to move your legs freely. Move any obstacles such as boxes or equipment.
Avoid excess pressure from the edge of your seat on the backs of your legs and knees. A footrest may be helpful, particularly for smaller users.
Keying in
Adjust your keyboard to get a good keying position. A space in front of the keyboard is sometimes helpful for resting the hands and wrists when not keying.
Try to keep your wrists straight when keying. Keep a soft touch on the keys and don’t overstretch your fingers. Good keyboard technique is important.
Using a mouse
Position the mouse within easy reach, so it can be used with the wrist straight. Sit upright and close to the desk, so you don’t have to work with your mouse arm stretched. Move the keyboard out of the way if it is not being used.
Support your forearm on the desk, and don’t grip the mouse too tightly.
Rest your fingers lightly on the buttons and do not press them hard.
Reading the screen
Adjust the brightness and contrast controls on the screen to suit lighting conditions in the room.
Make sure the screen surface is clean.
In setting up software, choose options giving text that is large enough to read easily on your screen, when you are sitting in a normal, comfortable working position. Select colours that are easy on the eye (avoid red text on a blue background, or viceversa).
Individual characters on the screen should be sharply focused and should not flicker or move. If they do, the VDU may need servicing or adjustment.
6
Posture and breaks 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 to reach things you need (if this happens a lot, rearrange your workstation). Most jobs provide opportunities to take a break from the screen, e.g. to do filing or photocopying. Make use of them. If there are no such natural breaks in your job, your employer should plan for you to have rest break. Frequent short breaks are better than fewer long ones.
7
ADVICE TO DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPEMNT USERS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Extract from “Working with VDU’s” - Health and Safety Executive)
1. Am I at risk?
VDUs have been blamed - often wrongly - for a wide range of health problems. In fact, only a small proportion of VDU users actually suffer ill health as a result of their work. Where problems do occur, they are generally caused by the way in which VDUs are being used, rather than the VDUs themselves. So problems can be avoided by good workplace and job design, and by the way you use your VDU and workstation.
2. Are aches and pains caused by using a VDU? What about ‘RSI’?
Some users may get aches and pains in their hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back, especially after long periods of uninterrupted VDU work.
‘Repetitive strain injury’ (RSI) has become a popular term for these aches, pains and disorders, but can be misleading - it means different things to different people.
A better medical name for this whole group of conditions is ‘upper limb disorders’. Usually these disorders do not last, but in a few cases they may become persistent or even disabling.
3. How can I avoid these aches, pains and disorders? Problems of this kind may have a physical cause, but may also be more likely if a VDU user feels stressed by the work (see next question). If you get aches or pains you should alert your supervisor or line manager.
Problems can often be avoided by good workplace design, so that you can work comfortably, and by good working practices (like taking frequent short breaks from the VDU).
Prevention is easiest if action is taken early, before the problem has become serious.
For more information please refer to Working with VDU’s (HSE website)
8
4. Can VDU work cause headaches?
Headaches may result from several things that occur with VDU work, such as: ■ screen glare; ■ poor image quality; ■ a need for different spectacles; ■ stress from the pace of work; ■ anxiety about new technology; ■ reading the screen for long periods without a break;
5. Can work with VDUs affect eyesight?
Extensive research has found no evidence that VDUs can cause disease or permanent damage to eyes. But long spells of VDU work can lead to tired eyes and discomfort. Also, by giving your eyes more demanding tasks, it might make you aware of an eyesight problem you had not noticed before. You and your employer can help your eyes by ensuring your VDU is well positioned and properly adjusted, and that the workplace lighting is suitable.
6. What about problems with my contact lenses or bifocals?
The heat generated by computers and other equipment can make the air seem drier, and some contact lens wearers find this uncomfortable. If you have this problem but don’t want to change to spectacles, you can try blinking more often or using tear substitute drops. Where the air is dry, employers can help by taking steps to increase the humidity. People with bifocal spectacles may find them less than ideal for VDU work. It is important to be able to see the screen easily without having to raise or lower your head. If you can’t work comfortably with bifocals, you may need a different type of spectacles.
7. How long should I work with a VDU?
There is no legal limit, but you need to break up long spells of VDU work. How long you should work without a break depends on the type of work you are doing, but on average you should aim to take a VDU break for 5 minutes in every hour of continual use.
8. Do VDUs give out harmful radiation?
No. VDUs 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 of radiation emitted from VDUs are well below the safe levels set out in international recommendations. So your employer doesn’t have to check radiation levels from your VDU, and you do not need any special devices such as spectacles, screens or aprons when using it.
9
9. What should I do if I’m pregnant?
You don’t need to stop working with VDUs. Past concern, about reports of miscarriages and birth defects among some groups of VDU workers, has not been borne out by more recent research. Many scientific studies have now been carried out and, taken as a whole; these do not show any link between miscarriages or birth defects and working with VDUs.
If you are anxious about your VDU or about work generally during pregnancy, you should talk to your manager or occupational health.
10. Can working with VDUs cause skin disorders?
This is rare. A few people have experienced irritation, rashes or other skin problems when working with a VDU. The exact cause is not known, but it seems possible that a combination of dry air, static electricity and individual susceptibility may be involved. If this is the case, increasing the humidity or allowing more fresh air into the room may help.
11. Can VDUs trigger epileptic fits?
Most people with epilepsy are completely unaffected by VDUs. A few 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 VDUs without provoking an attack.
12. I use a portable computer - are there any precautions I should take?
Laptops and other portables have to be compact and easy to carry. The resulting design features, like small keyboards, can make prolonged use uncomfortable, unless steps are taken to avoid problems, e.g. by using a docking station. It is best to avoid using a portable on its own if full-sized equipment is available. And like other VDU users, people who habitually use a portable should be trained how to minimise risks. This includes sitting comfortably, angling the screen so it can be seen clearly with minimal reflections, and taking frequent breaks if work is prolonged. Wherever possible, portables should be placed on a firm surface at the right height for keying.
13. Is it true that using a mouse can cause problems?
Intensive use of a mouse, trackball, or similar pointing device may give rise to aches and pains in the fingers, hands, wrists, arms or shoulders. This can also happen with a keyboard, but mouse work concentrates activity on one hand and arm (and one or two fingers), and this may make problems more
10