Meet The Display Screen Equipment Regulations

IT health and safety have come a long way and today, regardless of the size of an organisation, employers are required to initiate DSE training for employees who regularly have to work with display screen equipment. DSE includes both conventional display screens and those used in laptops, touch-screens and other similar devices. In fact, it is required by law (The Health and Safety DSE Regulations 1992) that employees who use such equipments should be made to undergo this training program to fulfil display screen regulations. This training not only helps to increase safety and awareness, but it also helps employers and employees to aid compliance with workplace regulations. Nowadays, the majority of the workforce needs to work with computers, making it essential for them to be aware of computer health and safety procedures. A healthy working environment not only boosts productivity and efficiency in employees, but it also protects them from a lot of problems associated with neck, shoulder, back or arm pain, as well as with fatigue and eyestrain. When employment is started, or health risks increase due to a change in working practices, the training should be repeated. Sometimes slight modification and adaptation becomes important, to accommodate new risks to health and safety. Some of the display screen equipment regulations involve the proper setting of desk and chair for assured comfort, ideal placement and use of computer screen, keyboard, and mouse so that there is no feeling of strain or fatigue, understanding the importance of maintaining a good posture during work, taking breaks from prolonged use of DSE, and also an awareness of the working environment, which includes lighting, noise, temperature, and anything that can affect comfort, well-being and efficiency at work. These aspects of the working environment can go a long way in enhancing efficiency and safety and reducing stress and health risks. Employers should ideally perform health and safety risk assessments of workstations and carry out DSE assessments on a regular basis. They should also ensure that the employees are provided with adequate information regarding all aspects of health and safety relating to their workstations. One important factor that should be kept in mind is that the training program should be made interactive and enjoyable, so that the employees find it a fun and knowledge filled program designed for their well being and comfort, instead of feeling that the regulations have been imposed upon them.