Although the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations came into effect in January 1993 (some changes were made in 2002), there is still considerable ignorance among both employers and employees as to how the regulations impact on them.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) workers can experience a range of different physical and psychological health problems including, headaches, temporary myopia, blurred vision, eyestrain, musculoskeletal problems including RSI and reproductive hazards.

The Regulations require employers to minimise the risks of VDU work by ensuring that workplaces and jobs are well designed, workers have adequate rest breaks and are not subjected to oppressive surveillance.

Problems can be caused by a combination of badly designed jobs, equipment and working environments. Most of the conditions can be prevented by rigorous attention to the way in which jobs are organised, and by provision of appropriate equipment and workplaces. This includes ensuring people are not required to do too much work in too short a time.

Workers defined as VDU users under the regulations can ask their employer to provide and pay for an eye and eyesight test. This is a test by an optometrist or doctor. There is also an entitlement to further tests at regular intervals.