Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992
What this means for your business
- Enforced by
- HSE
- Applies to
- United Kingdom
- On this page
- 7 compliance obligations, 3 practical guides across 2 topics
What you must do
7 compliance obligations under this legislation.
Risk assessment 2
Analyse and reduce risks from display screen equipment workstations
Unlimited fineYou must check every computer workstation used for your business to identify any health and safety risks. If the assessment becomes outdated or the workstation changes, you need to review it and update it. Then you must put in place measures to minimise any identified risks as far as is reasonably practicable.
Provide eye tests and special corrective lenses for DSE users
Unlimited fineIf any of your staff use display screen equipment (computers, laptops, etc.), you must arrange an eye and eyesight test whenever they ask for one, before a new employee starts using the equipment, and at regular intervals thereafter. If an employee reports visual problems that may be caused by the screen work, you must also arrange a test promptly. Where a normal pair of glasses or contacts cannot be used, you must supply special corrective appliances if the test shows they are needed.
Equipment and safety 2
Ensure workstations meet DSE requirements
If you provide any desk‑based workstations (computers, monitors, etc.) you must make sure they comply with the standards set out in the Display Screen Equipment Regulations. This means checking that desks, chairs, screens and lighting are suitable and adjusted correctly for the people using them.
Provide safe display‑screen equipment workstations
Unlimited fineIf you employ people who use computers, you must make sure every workstation meets the ergonomic and safety standards set out in the DSE Regulations. That means the screen, keyboard, desk, chair, lighting and surrounding environment must be adjustable, glare‑free, comfortable and not a source of risk. You need to check, maintain and, where necessary, adjust the equipment and layout to keep staff healthy and avoid musculoskeletal problems.
Management duties 1
Plan regular breaks or activity changes for DSE users
You must organise your staff’s daily tasks so that anyone using a computer or other display screen equipment gets regular breaks or switches to a different type of work. The aim is to lessen the amount of continuous screen time and reduce eye strain and other health risks. In practice this means scheduling short rest periods or varied duties throughout the day.
Training 2
Provide health and safety information for DSE users
Unlimited fineYou must give anyone who works with computers or other display screen equipment clear information about how to use their workstation safely and what steps you’ve taken to meet health‑and‑safety rules. This includes advice on posture, breaks, screen settings and any risk‑control measures you’ve put in place.
Provide health and safety training for display‑screen equipment users
You must give every employee who uses a computer workstation appropriate health‑and‑safety training. New staff must be trained before they start using a screen, and you must repeat the training whenever a workstation is significantly changed.
Penalties for non-compliance
4 penalties under this legislation. 4 carry an unlimited fine.
Analyse and reduce risks from display screen equipment workstations
Unlimited fine
Provide eye tests and special corrective lenses for DSE users
Unlimited fine
Provide safe display‑screen equipment workstations
Unlimited fine
Provide health and safety information for DSE users
Unlimited fine
Practical guidance
Our guides explain how to comply with the requirements above.
Annual retail compliance checklist
Quick annual compliance verification for established retailers. Covers consumer rights, pricing, age verification, data protection, Sunday trading, fire safety, worker …
Health and safety for retail premises
Retail-specific health and safety obligations. Covers lone working, violence prevention, manual handling, display screen equipment, fire safety, first aid, and …
Comply with display screen equipment regulations
How to meet your legal duties under the Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992. Covers workstation assessments, eye tests, breaks, and …
Sections and provisions
10 classified provisions from this legislation.
Duties 7
- s.2 Analysis of workstations employer
- s.3 Requirements for workstations employer
- s.4 Daily work routine of users employer
- s.5 Eyes and eyesight such test
- s.6 Provision of training
- s.7 Provision of information employer
- (WHICH SETS OUT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKS (WHICH SETS OUT THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR WORKSTATIONS WHICH ARE CONTAINED IN THE ANNEX TO COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 90/270/EEC ON THE MINIMUM SAFETY AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS FOR WORK WITH DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT ) Extent to which employers
Official guidance
Authoritative sources from regulators explaining this legislation.
- Related content HSE Code of Practice
- A brief guide HSE Factsheet
- DSE risk assessment HSE Detailed Guidance
- Contents HSE Detailed Guidance
- 7. Pregnancy or epilepsy HSE Factsheet
- 6. Training and information HSE Factsheet
- 5. Eyes and eyesight testing HSE Factsheet
- 4. Work routine and breaks HSE Factsheet
- 3. Good posture when using display screen equipment HSE Factsheet
- 2. Workstations and assessment HSE Factsheet