DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT

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• DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT
• AWARENESS
• University of Huddersfield
• Occupational Health Department
• NB please view as a Slide Show to enable
• the hyperlinks in this presentation

Occupational Health Department October 2012
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Aim of session

• To provide employees with awareness of the
  potential health and safety risks associated with
  using Display Screen Equipment (DSE) and how to
  manage these effectively.

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Objectives

• Recognise and understand the health and safety
  risks associated with DSE work.
• Understand university policy.
• Appreciate personal role in managing DSE risks
  effectively.
• Equip self to undertake a DSE self assessment and
  troubleshoot identified individual risks.

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Legal Perspectives

• Regulation as directed by the European Union

DSE Regulations enforced 1 January 1993 (amended
2002). The Management of Health and Safety at
Work Regulations (1999) are currently under
revision these require employers to assess
risks posed to workers by their work or business.
These regulations require DSE users to be
identified and individual risk assessments to be
undertaken.
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University Display Screen Equipment Policy

• The DSE policy is located within the University
  Health and
• Safety Policy. Overall responsibility for
  guidance to the
• university on DSE matters rests with the
  Occupational Health
• team.
• In summary the policy
• establishes what is required of Schools and
  Support Services to ensure compliance with the
  DSE Regulations
• sets out a DSE Assessment Process to ensure each
  workstation meets the requirements of the
  Regulations
• applies to all types of DSE including laptop
  computers
• The full policy may be viewed here please choose
  DSE policy.

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DSE assessment process

• Who is a DSE user?
• According to the Display Screen Equipment
  Regulations this
• is any employee who
• uses DSE for continuous or near-continuous spells
  of an hour or more at a time
• and
• uses DSE in this way more or less daily
• and
• has to transfer information quickly to or from
  the DSE.

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DSE assessment process
Under the university policy individual employees
are required to undertake a self assessment at
the start of employment, every 2 years
subsequently or when you undergo any changes e.g.
office moves. An assessment and compliance with
the policy is also required if you have an
agreement to work at home using your own
IT equipment. See the university home working
policy. If you regularly use a laptop computer in
the course of your work you are expected to
follow the same principles.
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DSE assessment process
The following slides provide you with an insight
into the Health Risks associated with DSE
use. At the end of this course you will be
guided towards using the university self
assessment process. This process will identify
any problems specific to you as the user and take
you through relevant actions to reduce risks.
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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• Back, neck and upper limb pain can be
• exacerbated by poor posture when seated
• Ergonomists advise that you should have your
• desk arranged so that the keyboard and screen
• are situated directly in front of you, preferably
  on
• a straight, not a curved part of the desk. If you
  
• have to work on a curved desk ensure that you
• are placed directly in front of the screen.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• Back, neck and upper limb pain can be
• exacerbated by poor posture when seated
• It is best to have any peripheral equipment (e.g.
• mouse, telephone, digipen, keyboard), placed
• directly within your close field of reach to
  avoid
• over reaching and exerting strain on your upper
• limbs and shoulders.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• There are many varied seats available however
  with
• adjustments most people can be accommodated
  within the
• available provisions within the university.
• Your seat should be placed at a height to ensure
  your arms
• are roughly parallel to the desk surface.
• Your thighs should be well supported by the seat
  pan and
• here should be a small gap between the back of
  your legs
• and the seat pan.
• Make sure that your low back is fully supported
  by the
• backrest, your shoulders are not hunched forwards
  and your
• elbows are placed vertically beneath your
  shoulders.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• The pressure on the discs in your lower back can
  be
• reduced significantly by having an open angle at
  the hip
• with a slight downwards slope to the thigh (see
  picture
• right).
• After these adjustments, if your feet do not sit
  flat on the
• floor you may also need a foot rest.
• HINT Check underneath your seat and see if the
  adjustors
• / levers on your chair will alter the back rest
  angle and
• height and the seat pan position / tilt and
  height.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• Back, neck and upper limb pain can be exacerbated
  by
• poor posture when seated
• Shoulder pain can arise if you hold your elbows
  away from
• your body.
• Some people find that adjustable arm rests are
  helpful
• although these sometimes prevent you from getting
  your chair
• close enough to the desk which can result in
  leaning forwards
• therefore these need to be used with caution. NB
  these can
• easily be removed if not required.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• Upper limb disorders with a variety of names
• RSI, carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis etc.)
• can be exacerbated by poor positioning. The
• optimum position for the arms / wrists is in a
• straight line with no deviation from the midline.
  
• Deviation away from a straight line can result in
• friction on the tendons of the wrist and
  irritation for
• every keystroke that you make. The same applies
• to use of the mouse.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• Neck pain can be reduced by stopping your
• head from tilting forwards
• If it is not already positioned with the screen
  at eye
• level or up to 20 degrees lower try moving it now
• and ensure that your neck is held upright whilst
• working.
• Document holders at the same height as the
• screen top, alongside the screen can also help.
• Angled writing slopes between screen and
• keyboard can reduce neck strain.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• If you do not have touch typing skills you can
  increase the strain on the
• neck when frequently checking lettering on the
  keyboard. Touch typing
• courses are available to staff though Computing
  Library Services. Call
• ext 2955 for information. There are also various
  free touch typing
• lessons to be found online however you should
  check with IT support
• before downloading any of these.
• For frequent phone use in conjunction with
  computer data
• entry a headset is recommended. This will reduce
  strain if
• cradling the handset between your shoulder
  ear.
• Contact telephone service requests for more info
  about headsets.

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Health Risks Reducing musculo-skeletal disorders

• Having a change - check how long you are spending
  working
• on the PC a complete change of work activity
  for 10 minutes
• in every hour is standard recommended practice.
• Micro breaks, for a few seconds every 10 minutes
  will also be
• beneficial in reducing general muscle fatigue -
  try to stretch
• your arms down at your sides at this interval.
  Research
• evidence to support this advice on exercises to
  reduce this
• problem can be read here
• Aim to stand up, stretch and change your posture
  every 20
• minutes.

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Health Risks reducing visual fatigue headaches

• Headaches and Visual fatigue can result from
  various factors
• The screen being too close it should be roughly
  at arms length from
• you.
• Glare from windows, light fittings, reflective
  surfaces.
• Inadequate lighting.
• Screen problems - you may need to adjust the
  controls on the screen
• (brightness, contrast, resolution) ensure that
  it is clean. If you are
• unsure how to adjust these controls please
  contact IT support on ext
• 3737 or by email.

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Health Risks reducing visual fatigue headaches

• If you find yourself leaning forward in order to
  read the screen you would
• probably benefit from a free eye test which is
  funded by the university. Eye
• tests are a requirement for users if requested.
  This is stipulated in the DSE
• regulations. For information and vouchers go to
  
• http//www.hud.ac.uk/oh/displayscreenequipment/
• Signs of visual fatigue can include
• Burning, itching eyes, Blurring of vision,
  Nausea, Fatigue
• Check how long you are spending working on the PC
  once again, a
• complete change of work activity for 10 minutes
  in every hour is standard
• recommended practice, by refocusing your eyes on
  something other than
• the computer screen.

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Health Risks - Stressors

• Physical mental Stressors can relate to working
  practices
• Ask yourself the following questions
• Do you feel under pressure to work on the PC for
  protracted periods without a break?
• Is this really necessary?
• Do you have any difficulties undertaking your
  job?
• Have you been trained on the software that you
  use?
• Have you made your manager aware of these
  problems?
• If you have not already considered why this is
  happening or taken action
• please check out the Stress resources on the
  Occupational Health website
• and ensure that you follow the policy guidelines.

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Health Risks work environment

• The work environment related to DSE work should
• provide
• Enough room near to and underneath the desk for a
  comfortable working posture.
• Easy movement around no clutter / blocked
  entrances or exits.
• Suitable sufficient lighting with working
  window blinds, if required, to reduce glare on
  the screen.
• A generally comfortable temperature.
• Minimal distraction from background noise.

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Health Risks portable computer use

• Lap top computers are not designed for extended
  use. The
• working position adopted for laptop use in
  conjunction with their
• narrow keyboards lends the user towards a greater
  risk of the
• health problems outlined earlier. If you are
  using one on a daily
• basis for more than an hour the following
  adaptations are
• recommended
• Utilise the laptop screen as your monitor by
  placing it on a
• separate riser block or a vertical laptop riser.
• Organise a separate plug in keyboard and mouse.
• To watch a short video on laptop use click here
  (sound is not
• required).

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Health Risks portable computer use

• In addition consider carefully how
• you transport your laptop.
• Considerations should include the
• overall weight, type of bag and
• personal safety / security.
• It is recommended that the weight is
• distributed evenly rather than on one
• shoulder. Laptop backpacks can be
• the most satisfactory solution.

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DSE myths 1 True or false?

• Using DSE will damage my eyes
• False
• Working with DSE will not cause disease or
  permanent damage to the eyes. Intensive work,
  poor screen position, unstable screen images or
  poor workplace lighting will cause discomfort.
  DSE work may also make you aware of an existing
  eye or eyesight defect.
• DSE gives out harmful levels of radiation
• False
• Visible light and other forms of electromagnetic
  radiation are emitted but at levels that present
  no risk.

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DSE myths 2 True or false?

• Working with DSE can cause skin disorders
• True
• A small number of people have experienced
  irritation, skin rashes or aggravated existing
  skin disorders whilst working with DSE. The
  causes seem to be a combination of electrostatic
  charges, low relative humidity and individual
  susceptibility. These effects can usually be
  combated by introducing sources of humidity into
  the environment.

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DSE myths 3 True or false?

• Im pregnant, I and my unborn child are at risk
• False
• There have been many scientific studies. These
  have shown no link between miscarriages or birth
  defects and working with DSE. However there is
  a Health and Safety policy to follow when
  employees are pregnant with a Risk Assessment
  requirement. Postural problems or restrictions
  in space associated with the growing bump may
  be referred by the individual to Occupational
  Health for advice.
• Epileptic seizures are triggered whilst using DSE
• False
• A small number of people who suffer from
  photo-sensitive epilepsy are susceptible to
  flickering lights or striped patterns. They
  could be affected if the computer screen images
  are not stable. Most people can use DSE without
  suffering any adverse effects.

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DSE assessment process 1

• At the start of employment and every 2 years
  thereafter each member of staff completes a DSE
  Self-Assessment Questionnaire for their campus
  workstation. The assessment works through all of
  the key risk areas and you make your own record.
  
• Further assessments are undertaken for any
  additional work venues (home or other campus
  locations). You should troubleshoot any
  identified problems using the guide provided in
  each section of the assessment.
• 
  

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DSE assessment process 2
DSE Self-Assessment Questionnaire is forwarded to
your manager or DSE Assessor (DSEA) depending
upon local arrangements. The DSEA works through
individual questionnaires to highlight any
perceived unresolved problems identified by the
member of staff.
DSE Assessor will verify the perceived problems
with the member of staff. This will involve
discussions with you at your workstation and, if
necessary, a more-detailed assessment. If any
equipment is required the DSEA will liase with
your manager who is responsible for any purchases.
DSE Assessor will review the adaptations at an
agreed date.
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DSE problems - advice

• In the first instance please contact your DSE
  Assessor.
• If you experience any of the following symptoms
  on a regular basis you should seek the advice of
  your General Practitioner
• musculoskeletal pains
• headaches
• other generalised aches pains
• You should also revisit this course and repeat
  the DSE Self-Assessment.
• Signs of upper limb problems can include
• Numbness of fingers, palms and other areas
• Aches and pains in the muscles and joints
• Tingling sensations or soreness
• If these symptoms do not resolve within 2 weeks
  of making adjustments please advise your manager
  and contact Occupational Health for further
  advice and assessment.

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Final recap recommended working posture

1. Back in its natural line and well supported,
   especially lumbar region.
2. Thighs well supported by the seat, small gap
   between seat and back of knees
3. Feet flat on the floor, footrest utilised if
   needed.
4. Forearms near-parallel with the floor.
5. Wrists not excessively bent up, down or sideways.
6. Screen height parallel or slightly below eye
   level to allow comfortable head and neck
   position.
7. Space in front of keyboard rest hands and wrists
   during breaks in typing.

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Test self assessment
Thank you for completing the DSE awareness
course In order to record that you have
undertaken this training please complete a short
test lodged on Unilearn. If you have not
undertaken the University of Huddersfield DSE
self assessment in the past 2 years please
complete it now.
Occupational Health Department October 2012