Zara's sore wrist
Zara is a developer. She sits at her desk for eight hours a day. She uses an old chair and a laptop on a low table.
After three months her wrist hurts. Her neck is stiff. She gets headaches in the afternoon.
Is this just part of the job? Or should her employer have done something? The law has an answer.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Employer | The person or company that gives you work and pays you. | The software company |
| Risk | The chance that something will cause harm. | A trailing cable may make someone fall |
| Welfare | Basic things that keep workers comfortable and healthy. | Clean toilets, drinking water, a rest area |
| Display screen equipment (DSE) | Screens and the computers, keyboards and desks used with them. | A monitor and a keyboard |
| Workstation | The whole place where one person works: desk, chair, screen, light. | Your desk at work |
| Assessment | A careful check to find risks and decide what to change. | A checklist for a desk |
| RSI | Repetitive strain injury: pain from doing the same movement many times. | A sore wrist from typing |
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Quick check: whose job is it?
Have a go
Quick check: whose job is it?
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
The main law: the 1974 Act
In the UK the main law is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It puts duties on employers. It also asks workers to take care and follow the rules.
What the Act asks of an employer
| Duty | In plain words | Example in a software office |
|---|---|---|
| A safe working place | The place, the equipment and the way of working must be safe | Fix a loose cable. Keep fire exits clear |
| Training | Workers are trained to do the job safely | Show new staff how to set up their desk |
| Welfare | Basic comfort and care | Clean toilets, drinking water, a place to rest, first aid |
| Information, instruction, supervision | Tell workers about the risks and watch that rules are followed | A safety notice and a named first aider |
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The screen rules
A second set of rules is made for screen work: the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992. It covers staff who use a screen a lot as part of their work.
An employer must do four things. The table shows them.
What an employer must do for screen workers
| The employer must | In plain words |
|---|---|
| Do a workstation assessment | Check each desk, chair, screen and light for risks. Fix the problems. Check again when things change |
| Reduce risks, including breaks | Plan the work so there are short breaks or a change of task |
| Pay for an eye test on request | If an employee asks, the employer gives an eye test. If they need special glasses for screen work, the employer helps pay |
| Give training and information | Show staff how to set up their desk and what to do if they have a problem |
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Extra: Going further: who checks, and who is covered
data-callouts.note.label
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is the national body that helps to enforce the law. For offices, the local council often does the checks.
The screen rules usually cover a worker who uses a screen for an hour or more at a time, nearly every day.