Transcript Document

Assessing Display Screen
Equipment
Mark Mallen
Health And Safety Manager
Fenlock-Hansen Ltd
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Introduction
DSE?
 Why am I here?

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Course Content
What is display screen equipment
 Legal framework
 Hazards
 Potential health effects
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Course Content
Common misconceptions
 Users
 Those at risk
 Conducting an assessment
 Follow-up
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What Is Display Screen
Equipment ?

Known as VDUs
– Computer terminals
– Liquid crystal displays
– Microfiche
– Process control screens
– Not televisions
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Legal Framework

The Health and Safety (Display Screen
Equipment) Regulations 1992
– the ‘VDU Regs’
– Part of the ‘six pack’
– Aim of preventing ill health
– Imposes legal responsibilities and duties
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Legal Framework

Employers’ Duties
– Assess risks
– Provide a healthy workplace
– Ensure workstations comply
– Eyesight tests
– Provide information, instruction and
training
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Legal Framework

Employees’ duties
– Follow the rules
– Work safely
– Report problems
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Hazards and Potential Health
Effects

Hazards
– Poor posture
– Working for too long
– Poor working environment
– Poor management of workload
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Hazards and Potential Health
Effects

Potential health effects
– Visual discomfort
– Upper limb disorders - RSI
– Aches and pains
– Stress
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Vision
Headaches
 Visual fatigue
– Sore
– Irritated
– Tired
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Vision

From
– Working too long
– Dry environment
– Glare
– Existing conditions
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Vision
Can aggravate existing conditions
 Eyesight gradually worsens with age
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Vision

Contact lenses
– A dry atmosphere
– Blinking less
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Vision
Use the Hansen Eyecare scheme
 Report problems to your supervisor
 Seek medical advice
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Hansen’s Eye Care Scheme
Consistent with the DSE regulations
 Eyesight tests
 A pair of basic spectacles for DSE
work
 Test may identify the cause of
problems
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Hansen’s Eyecare Scheme
Follow the optician's advice
 Wear any spectacles provided
 Tests before starting DSE activities
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Musculoskeletal

General fatigue, aches and pains
– Workstation problem
– May indicate other problems
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Musculoskeletal

Many musculoskeletal disorders start
with
– Numbness
– Tingling
– Aching hands, fingers or limbs
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Musculoskeletal
May be aggravated by work
 Or manifest at work
 Backache may indicate poor posture
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Musculoskeletal
Long term
 Problems may get worse
 Don’t leave things
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Musculoskeletal
If you suffer discomfort, report it to your
supervisor or manager
 Seek medical advice as soon as
possible
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Common Misconceptions
Do not give off harmful radiation
 Do not cause complications during
pregnancy

– Source: national radiological protection
board
Unlikely to induce epileptic seizures or
fits
 Do not damage eyesight
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Common Misconceptions
Any concerns
 Seek medical advice
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Users and Those at Risk

Defined as
– No alternative
– Need significant training or particular skills
– Use the display screen for continuous
spells of an hour or more
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Users
– Use the equipment most days
– Have to input data quickly or accurately
– Need high levels of concentration or
undertake critical work
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Users

Hansen define regular users as
– Either at least one-hour continuous work
or
– Two and a half hours accumulatively
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Risk low if users follow safe working
procedures
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High Risk Users
Working all day with a screen
 Inputting
 Word processing
 A computer aided design (CAD)
operator
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Moderate Risk Users

A secretary or personal assistant
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Low Risk Users
 A salesperson
that inputs daily
sales figures
 Somebody that does not use a
DSE every day
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Not Users
 A senior
manager who uses the
screen for brief enquiries
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Not Users
 A receptionist,
who occasionally,
interrogates the screen for
information
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Conducting an Assessment

Risk assessment
– Each workstation
– Trained assessors
– A standard, company pro-forma
– Reflecting an ‘ergonomic approach’
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Ergonomics
Adapting the task to fit the worker
 Adjust and use the equipment to
individuals’ needs
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Ergonomics
User position
 Equipment
 Screen position
 Environment
 Software
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Conducting an Assessment
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Risk assessments may recommend
– Wrist supports
– Footrests
– Other ergonomic measures
– Changes to the workplace
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The Pro Forma
Fill in information at top of assessment
record
 Read the question in ‘risk factors’, if
‘yes’, assessment complete
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The Pro Forma
To satisfy the regulations, a ‘yes’ is
required for questions in the
‘equipment factors’ section
 If ‘no’ action is required
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The Pro Forma
If ‘no’, look in ‘help’ section
 Try the solution
 If it does not work, further action may
be required
 If further action is required

– A purchase, put solution in ‘further action’
column
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The Pro Forma
If ‘no’, further action will be required
 Enter action to be taken in ‘further
actions’ column
 Tick when action complete
 If in doubt, ask
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Section 1 - the Display Screen
Positioned to suit the lighting and work
 Glare can be irritating
 Cause eye fatigue
 Force users to adopt awkward
postures
 Move screen to eliminate reflections
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Section 1 - the Display Screen

Glare filters
– Can reduce reflections
– Affects quality
– To be used as a last resort
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Section 2 - Keyboard Comfort
Positioning is important to overall
comfort
 Ideally, keyboard in front of the user
 Gap, 50mm to 100mm
 To rest the heels of the hands
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Section 2 - Keyboard Comfort
Move the chair
 Fingers to rest comfortably on the keys
 Wrists should not flex up or down
 Adjust the angle of slope
 Keyboard glare-free
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose
Desk space
 Things should be within easy reach
 Stretching or reaching can cause
stress and strain
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose
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Ideal position
– Display screen and keyboard directly in
front of the user

Some tasks require more space in
front of the user
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose

Chair

A properly adjusted chair
– Important to short term comfort
– Long-term well being

Adjustable for height and back support
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose
Poor posture can cause backache
 Pain in the neck and shoulders
 Working for long periods in an
awkward position can cause fatigue in
the short term
 Strain on the joints and muscles can
cause harm in the long term
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose

Personal comfort
Eyes should be level with the top of the
VDU casing
 Forearms horizontal with the keyboard
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose
Armrests should not interfere with
keying
 Still allow the chair under the desk

– Not a legal requirement
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The space under the desk should be
free from clutter, to allow ‘fidgeting’
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Section 3 - Furniture ‘Fit’ for
Purpose
Feet flat on the floor or footrest, weight
on buttocks, not thighs
 The back pad or support should be
adjustable

– To fit the curve of the spine
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Section 4 – the Working
Environment

Space
Is there enough room for the user(s)
and the workstation(s)
 Keep cables under control to prevent
tripping hazards
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Section 4 – the Working
Environment

Ambience
– The temperature should be within
reasonable limits
– Noise should be within acceptable limits
– The lighting should be at a comfortable
level
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Section 4 – the Working
Environment

The humidity at an acceptable level
– Too dry, sore eyes

Reasonably well ventilated
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Section 4 – the Working
Environment

Will additional equipment affect the
working environment
– Noise
– Heat
– Space
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Section 5 – the Software
Can the operator use the software they
are expected to use
 Is training required
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Conducting an Assessment

Has everything been covered?
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Conducting An Assessment

If yes to any question, answer
concerns on hints
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Practical Assessment
Using the pro forma, conduct an
assessment in the workplace
 Debrief on assessment
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Follow Up

If action is required, ensure that it is
completed.
– Bring completed assessments to health
and safety manager.
– A Costed action plan shall be drawn up.
– Discussed with responsible manager.
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Follow Up
– Approved, or not
– Approved actions implemented
– Once complete, assessment sheets shall
be updated
– Returned to responsible manager and
filed
– Changes will require additional
assessments
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Assessing Display Screen
Equipment

Thanks for listening
– Any questions
Be
Safe
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