These days, almost all the information we work with on a daily basis comes to us on a screen, and no more so than at work, where office jobs can lead to almost eight full hours of staring at a screen every day.
DSE (Desk Screen Equipment) regulations came into effect in 1992, but from our experience when conducting workplace assessments, this is often the most neglected area of health and safety.
As an employer or manager, it is your responsibility to regularly conduct a DSE assessment to ensure your employees have safe and efficient workstations.
Not only is this good for employee health but healthier employees are good for business with less sick leave and higher productivity rates.
The DSE regulations cover a multitude of common office equipment, such as computers, tablets, and smartphones.
This also includes, not only employees who work at the office, but those that work at home or otherwise remotely.
Because of how widespread the regulations are, most people have a workplace environment that requires monitoring and assessment. Even in fairly active jobs, like nursing or retail, screen use is part of regular job-related activities.
The typical DSE assessment considers several factors. First, there is the workplace environment itself: the desk, the office, and the state of all the equipment used in that workstation. It goes further, however, considering such things as the demands of the job itself.
What responsibilities does each person have individually? How much is being put on each staff member? Is there a more efficient, healthier way to achieve the same productivity?
The consequences of failing to take DSE safety seriously can be painful for your employees.
Physical symptoms of too much screen use, or improper screen use, can be chronic ailments like back and shoulder strain, eye fatigue, or headaches and migraines.
The mental effects can be just as bad, including stress, fatigue, and depression. Obviously, a stressed or exhausted employee is going to place an undue burden on their co-workers and the business. But imagine if not one but several of your employees are suffering. The financial consequences alone can add up.
AGTS has many years of experience helping businesses not only meet regulatory standards but improve the health and lifestyles of their employees. Contact us today to set up a DSE assessment for your own office, and start making healthy changes today.
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