What is a DSE assessment? What are my legal duties as an employer?
Bethan Foston 
Date published: Dec 01, 22
Defined, Display Screen Equipment - or DSE - are devices with a digital screen, such as laptops, monitors, and iPads. Using these devices incorrectly, or having an insufficient workstation, can cause pain to those who are sedentary for an extended amount of time.
According to NHS Employers, a staggering 470,000 workers suffer from MSK conditions every year, in the UK alone. Considering how preventable these conditions are, it is vital employers act by putting preventative measures in place and provide high-quality DSE training.
Can inadequate DSE training put my employees at risk?
In the shortest answer: yes. A poorly set up workstation can cause pain to the back, neck, shoulders, arms, and hands, as well as increasing the risk of eye strain and fatigue.
Employees more susceptible to injury are those who:
- Work from a desk for extended periods of time
- Work remotely without an ergonomically designed chair
- Work from various locations using different equipment that hasn't been assessed for risks
Your legal duty as an employer in the UK: What is a DSE Workstation Assessment?
From an organisational perspective, by law under the Health and Safety Regulations 1992, an employer must:
- Complete a DSE Workstation assessment for those working with display screen equipment exceeding one hour per day, recording your findings if five or more individuals are employed
- Provide an eye test should a worker need/request one
- Put measures in place to reduce the risks associated with desk work
- Review a DSE assessment if there have been major changes to a workstation, nature of work or an individual’s condition
An employer is obligated to resolve any issues raised in the assessment, including provision of training, if it has been deemed a ‘need’ for certain individuals to complete.
‘We must comply with UK HSE regulations, which is why we implemented Ideagen’s DSE training and workstation assessment. If we didn’t comply, the Health and Safety Executive would come down on us with a hefty fine or, in extreme cases, they have the power to close your offices on the spot.’
A DSE Assessment must be completed by a competent, trained assessor who personally reviews each workstation user. However, if you are looking for a more efficient, less time-consuming approach, you may want to consider deploying a digital system, allowing everyone to become a competent self-assessor and carry out their own assessment.
Ideagen WorkRite is the perfect system to help you do just that.
The solution to your DSE headache: Ideagen’s digital e-learning and assessment platform…
We have established that misuse of DSE equipment can cause your employees a great deal of pain and suffering as well as putting you, the employer, in danger of litigation. With Ideagen WorkRite, you mitigate those risks and keep your employee’s health at the forefront of your operations.
CPD accredited, WorkRite allows you to deliver quality DSE training, regardless of your working arrangement.
Ben Wildman of Barnet Homes, a WorkRite customer, reported:
- A 50% decline in MSK conditions since integrating WorkRite
- The system has saved Ben 15 hours per week
- The completion rate improved from 65% to 95%
- Cut DSE actions per week from 150 to 40.
Protect your employees, ensure compliance.
Find out more about how Ideagen WorkRite can be used to prevent MSK conditions in your workplace, in our FREE downloadable guide.