A variety of ill-health symptoms have been associated with working with Display Screen Equipment (DSE). These include musculoskeletal disorders, mental stress, and visual fatigue. If left untreated these symptoms can develop into long term health problems and are then much more difficult to resolve. So, it’s no surprise that carrying out DSE Assessments is a legal requirement.
DSE work potentially makes a significant contribution to the estimated total of working days lost to MSDs in the UK each year. A trained DSE assessor will be invaluable in reducing this number by ensuring proper workstation set up and good working posture.
If you employ DSE users, it may be useful to appoint a staff member or members to act as in-house DSE assessors. In order to do this competently, they should have some proper training. This will ensure they can undertake DSE assessments in accordance with current health and safety legislation and guidance.
Why Do I Need a DSE Assessor Training Course?
A properly trained DSE Assessor will be able to both proactively and reactively manage the health and welfare of your DSE users.
They will identify who is covered by the current DSE regulations. They will then be able to assess the workstations and, where risks are noted, put control measure in place. They should also be able to train others in correct use of DSE and in good working posture.
Proactively managing your organisation’s DSE assessments helps you stay within the law and helps significantly reduce discomfort and injury due to a poorly designed workstation. Being reactive mans they can jump in and quickly correct any developing problems as and when they occur.
Why Do I Need DSE Assessments?
Proactively managing your organisation’s DSE assessments helps you stay within the law and helps significantly reduce discomfort and injury due to a poorly designed workstation.
It is imperative that your DSE assessments are carried out by a trained Assessors who can undertake DSE assessments in accordance with current health and safety legislation and guidance. This is a service provided by companies such as Worksafe but many organisations now recognise the value of training their own assessors so that they can manage this process in-house.
What Are The Benefits To Training My Own Assessors?
Training one or more appointed members of staff to manage your organisation’s DSE assessments is going to bring many tangible benefits. In short, a knowledgeable assessor can:
- Provide intervention for anyone reporting the start of a work-related ache or pain
- Review existing assessments
- Provide DSE assessments for new starters
- Assess workstations anytime that the workplace changes (i.e. moving to a new desk, furniture alterations, office move).
- Deliver staff inductions to new starters regarding the correct use of DSE
- Help reduce costs in the form of sick pay and replacement staff
- Improve the health and comfort of all staff leading to a measurable improvement in productivity
- Raise morale of staff by showing commitment to your staff’s welfare
- Help promote positive health and safety culture in your company
- Reduce your risk of litigation for a work-related injury
How Often Do We Need To Carry Out a DSE Assessment?
Generally, a DSE assessment should be repeated if one of the following occurs:
- Major changes to DSE equipment/the workstation/work environment or software
- Change in the health of the DSE user such as a new or developing ache or pain
- There are considerable or significant changes of work task
And always ask ensure your assessments are reviewed if changes are made; easy when you have your own trained assessors on site!
Ready To Start Organising Your Own DSE Assessments?
Find out more about our DSE Assessor training or book a place on our open course.
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