For those people who are working at home on a long-term basis, the risks associated with using display screen equipment (DSE) must be controlled. This includes doing home workstation assessments.

However, there is no increased risk from display screen equipment work for those working at home temporarily. So, in that situation employers do not need to do home workstation assessments.

You could provide workers with advice on completing their own basic assessment at home. This practical workstation checklist (PDF) may help them.

There are some simple steps you can take to reduce the risks from display screen equipment work:

• breaking up long spells of DSE work with rest breaks (at least 5 minutes every hour) or changes in activity
• avoiding awkward, static postures by regularly changing position
• getting up and moving or doing stretching exercises
• avoiding eye fatigue by changing focus or blinking from time to time

If you require advice for your business please contact one of our team.