Hidden Health and Safety Costs that are Easily Avoidable
13 December 2018
VDU DSE
VDU or Video Display Units and DSE or Display screen equipment are now widely used in the workplace and have been proven to be a significant factor to workplace injuries such as;
- Repetitive strain
- Eye Strain
- Back Injury
- Neck Injury
- Stress
Along with these injuries, it can also decrease productivity of employees if they are not comfortable in work and are developing injuries. As well as reducing these sometimes hidden and underestimated health and safety costs, carrying out a VDU DSE assessment has also been proven to contribute to business success. As well as general duties under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, there is a minimum health and safety requirements for work with display screen equipment, specific duties on employers and employees.
Who is affected?
Those who are covered by the VDU DSE regulations include;
- If the employee has no choice but to use the VDU to carry out her/his work
- If the employee normally uses the VDU for continuous periods of more than one hour
- If the VDU is generally used by the employee on a daily basis
Those who are not covered by the DSE and VDU regulations include;
- 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 any equipment having a small data or measurement display required for direct use of the equipment
- Typewriters of traditional design, of the type known as “typewriter with window”
Solution
Employers are required to evaluate health and safety at work stations with particular references to eyesight, physical difficulties and mental stress. Work station analysis is an important component of ensuring a safe place of work for all employees.
At Elearn we provide a VDU DSE Office course that all employers and staff who use these work stations for any length of time should do to learn how to avoid the range of adverse effects on the arm, hand and shoulder (WRULD’s) and other parts of the body. Click here to find out more information.