Introduction to Health and Safety at Work

17.13.3 Exemptions – Regulation 1(4)
Exemptions include display screen equipment used in 
connection with:
➤
drivers’ cabs or control cabs for vehicles or machinery
➤
on board a means of transport
➤
mainly intended for public operation
➤
portable systems not in prolonged use
➤
calculators, cash registers and small displays related 
to the direct use of this type of equipment
➤
window 
typewriters.
17.13.4 Assessment of risk – Regulation 2
Possible hazards associated with display screen equip-
ment are physical (musculoskeletal) problems, visual 
fatigue and mental stress. They are not unique to display 
screen work, nor an inevitable consequence of it, and 
Summary of the main legal requirements
345
17.13 
Health and Safety (Display Scr
een Equipment) Regulations 1992

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indeed research shows that the risk to the individual from 
typical display screen work is low. However, as in other 
types of work, ill-health can result from poor work organ-
ization, working environment, job design and posture, 
and from inappropriate working methods.
Employers must carry out a suitable and suffi cient 
analysis of users’ (regardless of who has provided them) 
and operators’ (provided by the employer) worksta-
tions in order to assess the risks to health and safety. 
The guidance gives detailed information on workstation 
minimum standards and possible effects on health.
The assessment should be reviewed when major 
changes are made to software, hardware, furniture, 
environment or work requirements.
17.13.5 Workstations – Regulation 3
All workstations must meet the requirements laid down 
in the schedule to the regulations. This schedule lays 
down minimum requirements for display screen worksta-
tions, covering the equipment, the working environment, 
and the interface between computer and user/operator.