DSE assessment: what the display screen equipment regulations require

Display screen equipment includes computer screens and similar devices used at work. A DSE assessment examines the whole workstation and work routine so the employer can reduce risks such as discomfort, fatigue and musculoskeletal problems. It is not just a chair checklist. In Great Britain, the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 set the legal framework, while HSE's assessment guidance explains practical application. Northern Ireland employers should check their own corresponding regulations.

Who is a DSE user?

HSE advises that workers using DSE daily as part of normal work for continuous periods of an hour or more should have a workstation assessment. Someone who occasionally checks an email on a shared screen may not meet the same user criteria. Assess the actual pattern, including home and office days, rather than relying on a job title. The duties apply to workers who qualify, including relevant home and hybrid work arrangements. HSE's home-working guidance says both locations should be covered when a worker uses DSE in both.

Assess the whole workstation

Look at screen height and position, input devices, desk and chair, lighting, glare, noise, temperature, software usability, posture and the way the work is organized. Ask the worker about pain, fatigue and what happens over a normal day. Consider special needs, including disability or pregnancy, where relevant. A self-assessment can gather information if the worker has suitable training, but HSE says a trained assessor should review results, resolve doubtful points and make sure problems are put right. An automated score alone is not the assessment.

Assess when a new workstation is set up, a new user begins, a significant change is made, or a user reports discomfort. A change in home-working pattern may also require review. Record what was found, actions agreed, owner and follow-up date. Check whether the action has solved the problem rather than marking the form complete at submission.

Breaks, training and eye tests

Employers must plan DSE work so it is interrupted by breaks or changes of activity. The rules do not prescribe one universal five-minute pattern for every worker. Work variation can be more useful than a timer that interrupts the wrong task. Workers should receive information and training on workstation use and risk reduction.

Qualifying DSE users can request an eye and eyesight test, paid for by the employer, and further tests at appropriate intervals. Where special corrective appliances are required specifically for DSE work, the employer may have to meet the cost of a basic pair. Ordinary glasses needed for everyday use are a different question. Use HSE's DSE guidance for the conditions rather than promising free glasses to every person who uses a computer.

Home and hybrid workers

HSE says employers can often assess a home workstation through a trained worker's self-assessment and follow-up rather than visiting the home. Check both home and office arrangements where both are used. If the assessment shows equipment or other controls are needed, implement them so far as reasonably practicable; workers must not be charged for measures the employer is required to provide. A laptop used for long periods may need a separate keyboard, mouse or screen arrangement, depending on the risk and actual posture. Do not prescribe the same equipment for every person.

Use the DSE workstation checker as a structured starting point, then have an appropriate person review the result and address issues. The DSE assessment software page is the commercial route. This copy does not claim that Complys automatically performs the competent assessment or makes a clinical determination.

General information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements against the primary sources linked above.