HSE issues new DSE checklist

A new checklist to help employers ensure their employees' health and safety when using display screen equipment (DSE) has been released.

The Health and Safety Executive has issued the advice to help business owners with their workplace risk assessments.

It states this should allow companies to comply more completely with the Schedule to the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations.

The HSE recommends employers work through the checklist and suggests this should allow identification of risks in the workstation environment.

While warning it is not comprehensive and other elements in the workplace might impact on those using DSE, the organisation asserts the checklist should allow most direct hazards to be identified and corrected.

Among the hazards which it identifies are sitting and keyboard positions, furniture issues such as glare and reflection and the lighting in the work environment.

Consultants Safety-wise.co.uk claim inadequate DSE can lead to repetitive strain injuries, eyesight problems, headaches and fatigue stress.