Workstation Assessments
Most businesses have employees who will work on a computer or other form of Display Screen Equipment, this brings the risk of long term injury and as such requires a risk assessment on the workstation setup.
Sitting in front of a computer terminal may lead to pain in the back, the neck or down the arms.
It is a legal requirement that employees are provided with a safe workplace.
The Display Screen Equipment (DSE.) Regulations (1992), state that every employer shall perform a suitable and efficient analysis of workstations to assess risks to which those persons using them are exposed.
It is an assessment of the area that your employee works in and the tasks that they carry out, relative to their personal abilities.
The aim of the assessment is to identify and analyse any risk factors which may be causing current or future health problems, or may be reducing work performance.
Risk factors may be related to:
Posture
Design of the work area
Design of equipment
Design of the job and the way in which it is carried out.
There are a number of reasons why workstation assessments have significant pay offs for Businesses:
Risks identified can be reduced, thereby protecting staff
Remedial actions can improve comfort and therefore potentially improve productivity
Opportunity to influence behaviours and promote safe working practices, improving occupational health figures
Educating helps empower individuals to take ownership of their own workplace hazards
Early identification of symptoms may help reduce long term cumulative damage, potentially reducing lost-time
Reduced time off work should offset any costs of equipment required for programme implementation
A record of actions will provide an audit trail and assist you if involved with legal action or compensation claims at a later date
Associated Legislation
The Display Screen Equipment (D.S.E.) Regulations (1992), state that every employer shall perform a suitable and efficient analysis of workstations to assess risks to which those persons using them are exposed.