VDU Assessment / DSE Assessment

Cost

Each project is costed according to its own unique requirements. Please call us Business Safety on 0818 333 212 or use the form above to request a quote.

Process

The focus of each VDU assessment conducted by Business Safety is on compliance with the requirments of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and the General Application Regulations 2007 (see below for legislation requirements).

VDU assessments are conducted in two stages:

VDU users are issued with a questionnaire
Our expert VDU assessor conducts on-site VDU assessments.

The purpose of the questionnaire is to obtain information directly from the VDU user. This is important information which may not be detected by observation alone. Users may give indications regarding workstation layout, seating arrangements or environmental discomfort caused by drafts, controlled ventilation etc.

VDU workstations are individually assessed taking account the layout and design of the workstation, environmental factors and user interaction with the workstation.

We will then write a full report outlining particulars of the workstation, our findings and recommendations for improving user experience and compliance with legislation or best practice. Reports include data collected e.g. temperature and humidity, as well as digital photographs of workstation layout at the time of assessment.

Legislation

Part 2, Chapter 5 (Display Screen Equipment) of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 set down minimum standards and requirements regarding VDU workstations.

In particular, the General Application Regulations 2007 require employers to:

	ensure that the general use of the equipment is not a source of risk for the employee,
	perform an analysis of the workstation, taking account of possible risks to:
		eyesight
		physical problems, and
		problems of mental stress
	Plan such works to include periodic breaks or changes in activity
	provide information to the employer’s employees
	provide training to employees in the use of workstations
	Re-assess the workstation where:
		the employee transfers to a new workstation, or
		where new equipment or technologies are introduced
	Make eyetests available

HSA guidance states that each employer must carry out an analysis of individual workstations and this must be done by a competent person with the necessary skills, training and experience.

HSA guidance goes on to state that “It is not sufficient to allow employees to use a software package to assess their own workstations, the employer must be actively engaged in completing a physical risk assessment/analysis of the individual workstation”.

VDU Assessments – Why Are They Required?

Habitual and prolonged use of VDUs can cause discomfort and pain in the shoulder, neck, hand and arm. These conditions are collectively described as Upper Limb Disorders. Where problems do occur, they are generally as a result of how VDUs are used, rather than the VDUs themselves. These problems can generally be avoided by good workplace and job design, and by adjusting the way VDU and workstation are used.

Business Safety are competnet assessors within the meaning of the 2005 Act and will conduct your VDU assessments, offer expert advice on compliance with the Regulations and advise you on how to resolve any issues identified.

How do i know if i need to carry out an assessment?

There are a few questions you can ask yourself in deciding whether a VDU or workstation assessment is necessary.

	Are employees required to use VDUs to carry out his or her work?
	Do employees normally use a VDU for continuous periods of more than one hour?
	Are VDUs generally used on a daily basis?
	Have employees complained about discomfort, eye-strain or stress when using a VDU?

If you answer Yes to any of the above, then you should conduct a VDU assessment on the relevant workstations.

Do all computers / input devices require assessment?

No. There are several exclusions to the Regulations. Regulation 71 (Non-application of Chapter 5) excludes the following from the requirements of the Regulations:

	drivers’ cabs or control cabs for vehicles or machinery
	computer systems on board a means of transport
	computer systems mainly intended for public use
	portable display screen equipment not in prolonged use at a workstation
	calculators, cash registers and equipment with a small data display, and
	typewriters of traditional design, of the type known as “typewriter with window”

For further information regarding VDU Assessment please call

Business Safety on 0818 333 212 or contact us via the form above.

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