Display Screen Work: Particular General Duties

Compliance with any specific rules relating to work with VDUs etc does NOT of itself mean that the employer has fulfilled his particular general duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act that relate to such work. These particular general duties are set out below:

Plant which may Pose Risks to Users of Display Screen Equipment

There is a duty to provide plant (such as for heating and ventilation, fixtures on which banks of display screens are mounted, and other installations or structural equipment) that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health as regards his employees, and to maintain such plant so that it remains, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health as regards his employees.

Work Systems for Use of Display Screen Equipment

Employers are required to provide systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health as regards his employees, and maintain such systems of work so that they remain, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health as regards his employees.

Monitors, Laptops, Printers, Cables, Desks, Chairs and Other Articles

Arrangements should be made for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and the absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of articles associated with VDU work.

Toner, Cleaning Fluids and Other Substances

Arrangements should be made for ensuring, so far as is reasonably practicable, safety and the absence of risks to health in connection with the use, handling, storage and transport of substances associated with VDU work.

Information about Risks Relating to Display Screen Work

Such information as may be necessary should be provided to employees or to any other person as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.

Instructions on Avoiding Risks Relating to Display Screen Work

Such instruction as may be necessary should be provided to employees or to any other person as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.

Training to Avoid Risks Relating to Display Screen Work

The necessary training must be provided to employees or to any other person as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.

Supervision to Avoid Risks Relating to Display Screen Work

Employers are required to provide such supervision as may be necessary to employees or to any other person as is necessary to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety at work of his employees.

Maintenance of Safe and Healthy Place for Display Screen Work

Any place of work under the employer's control must be maintained in a condition that is safe and without risks to health as regards his employees. Where the employer makes his premises available as a workplace for non-employees (e.g. allows on-site maintenance of software or hardware by a contractor's staff, or rents out an office or workshop to another firm), or as a place where non-employees may use plant or substances provided for their use (e.g. a school's pupils, or a cyber-cafe's customers), the employer must take such measures as it is reasonable for a person in his position to take to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the workplace, means of access and egress, and any plant or substance in the premises or provided for use there are safe and without risks to health as regards non-employees.

Safe and Healthy Access and Egress for Display Screen Users

Means of access to and egress from any place of work under the employer's control must be provided that are safe and without risks to health as regards his employees.

Safe and Healthy Working Environment for Display Screen Users

The employees' working environment must be designed so that it is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to their health. This includes the provision and maintenance of adequate facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.

To comply with these particular general duties it may be necessary to do more than is required by specific rules. It is necessary to do more if the cost, time and effort of doing more is justified for achieving a greater reduction of a risk than can be achieved by merely complying with specific rules.

Example:

The Display Screen Regulations do not apply to equipment mainly intended for public operation. However, libraries and other establishments where computers or the like are available for public use must assess the risks and may find that some of the regulatory standards should be applied in relation to non-employees so as to fulfil certain particular general duties.