edp Safety Systems
total Management of Health and Safety
for every organisation
health, safety and environment consultants
Service Overview
Display Screen Equipment Assessment
Call us on: 01744 766000
or fax on: 01744 766025
or email on:
enquiries@edp-uk.com.
Essential Services
H+S Services:
- Health and Safety Audit
- General Risk Assessment
- Specific Risk Assessment
- Fire Risk Assessment
- Manual Handling Risk Assessment
- COSHH Risk Assessment
- Display Screen Equipment Assessment
- Noise Risk Assessment
- Asbestos Survey (Type II)
- Competent Contractors Audit
- Access Consultancy
- Portable Appliance Testing
Overview
More and more jobs require employees to spend extended periods of their working day using Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and associated items such as keyboards, printers, desks and chairs.
Typical hazards associated with this equipment are often overlooked because their consequences may not be immediately apparent.
However, if ignored, they can result in seriously debilitating conditions that are avoidable if the symptoms are identified and appropriate actions taken early enough.
The DSE Assessment examines the equipment used and tasks performed by an employee to identify any hazards and assess the levels of risk that they pose.
Where large numbers of workers need to be assessed, we are able to introduce automated software systems that can improve the efficiency of:
- Assessments
- Instruction in the safe use of workstations
- Tracking of recommended actions resulting from the assessments
Objectives
The main objective of the DSE Assessment is to ensure that work involving the use of Display Screen Equipment (e.g. personal computers) does not present unnecessary risk to employees.
In particular, the equipment, person and work activities are assessed against the requirements of:
- the "Health and Safety At Work Act"
- the "Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations"
- the "Display Screen Equipment Regulations"
Methodology
Depending on the number of workstations, the assessment process typically involves the following activities:
- The Assessor may consider it necessary to discuss the process with a manager or supervisor to ensure any disruption to normal working is kept to a minimum.
- Each worker who is to be assessed is usually asked to complete a Self Assessment Questionnaire. This preliminary activity helps to identify particular issues where intervention or instruction may be required. It can also help in planning multiple assessments to use the time most efficiently.
- The Assessor visits each of the workers to confirm the accuracy of the Self Assessment Questionnaire and to complete a Personal Assessment form, which details any issues found, training or advice given by the assessor and any other actions deemed necessary to address the issues.
If appropriate, the Assessor may provide basic instruction and advice in setting up the workstation in accordance with current recommended best practice.
All findings, recommendations and instruction given to an individual worker are recorded on the Personal Assessment form.
It needs to be understood that the Assessor cannot provide advice that is more properly the role of a professionally qualified person such as a General Practitioner (GP), Optician, Physiotherapist, etc.
Duration
A typical assessment for a single user of Display Screen Equipment, including basic ergonomic training requires around 30 minutes.
Considerably less time is required, where no requirements are identified that need intervention or instruction.