​Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

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The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations aim to protect the health of people who work with display screen equipment.  The main provisions apply to display screen equipment (DSE) users, defined as workers who habitually use a computer as a significant part of their normal work. This includes people who are regular users of DSE equipment, or rely on it as part of their job. This covers you if you use DSE for periods of an hour or more continuously, and/or you are making daily use of DSE.  

That does not mean that DSE work is high risk – it isn't. However, muscular skeletal problems can be avoided if users follow effective practice, set up their workstations properly and take breaks during prolonged use. By just taking a few simple precautions, work with DSE can be more comfortable and productive. 

All employees in each school/service who have access to display screen equipment must complete the​ eLearning Workstation package annually.   

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Tips for improving your work environment 

• Adjust your chair and DSE to find the most comfortable position for your work. As a broad guide, your arms should be approximately horizontal and your eyes at the same height as the top of the DSE casing.
  
• Make sure there is enough space underneath your desk to move your legs freely. Move any obstacles such as boxes or equipment.
  
• Avoid excess pressure on the backs of your legs and knees. A footrest, particularly for smaller users, may be helpful.
  
• Arrange your desk and screen so that bright lights are not reflected in the screen. You shouldn't be directly facing windows or bright lights. Adjust curtains and blinds to prevent unwanted light.
  

Health & Safety Executive - ​Good posture when using DSE​

Office Furniture

Office furniture within the work environment should be suitable to employees needs.  Employees are able to adjust their chair in line with the outcomes or suggestions of the online eLearning Workstation package. If however it identifies that the adjustments are insufficient, or if an employee has individual circumstances that require a more detailed investigation into the furniture at their workstation, this will be undertaken with input from both the University's Occupational Health Service Provider, Human Resources, and the University's e​rgonomic furniture provider, Posturite.

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