Most legislation covering computers is to be found in the Health and Safety
(Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992), and in the 1993 Implementation of European
Directive (90/270/EEC) on display screen work.
These regulations have been designed to help people who use computers as a significant
part of their job.
Employers Obligations:
Provide furniture that can be adjusted.
No two people are the same size or shape. Chairs, desks and monitors
need to be adjustable so that the user can alter the height, angle of back
rest etc. to reduce the risk of backache, neck ache and other aches and pains
Make sure computer users take regular breaks.
Working at a computer for long periods can make the user very tired and can
contribute to headaches, back and neck ache, Repetitive Strain Injury (see below).
Provide regular eyesight tests.
Computers can increase the risk of eyestrain so users need to have regular sight
tests to keep their eyes healthy.
Provide information on health and safety.
Most people do not know what the health and safety regulations say; an
employer must provide this information for their employees.
Assess the risks of using a particular workstation, and correct any problems.
Not all computer systems meet the regulations. Some have monitors that cannot
be adjusted, and some are used in hazardous areas in factories. All computer
equipment has to be risk assessed and made as safe as possible for the user.
Reduce the risks of conditions such as Repetitive Strain Injury.
Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is a term that covers a lot of complaints. Most of
them are caused by a person repeating an action over and over again. This
is true for people who work on a single machine in a factory for a long time.
It is also true for computer users. RSI generally affects the hands, wrists and arms,
through repeated use whilst typing. RSI can cause damage to the joints and bones
and in some cases the muscles.
