Physical Visual Mental

Physical Problems (Musculo-skeletal)

Causes

These are the aches and pains you develop working with your DSE (display screen equipment). Often due to poor posture and a poorly designed workstation.

WRULDs (Work related upper limb disorder)

What are the symptoms?

• Symptoms may present themselves initially at home rather than work.
• Discomfort/pain which may affect the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow and/or neck and shoulder.

RSI (Repetitive Stress Injury)

A syndrome with a collection of symptoms. Occurs with intensive, repetitive, forceful, gripping or twisting movements. Individually and/or collectively. Associated with very high keystroke work and intensive mouse usage.

What are the Symptoms?

• Symptoms may present themselves initially at home rather than work
• Tightness, discomfort, stiffness, soreness or burning in the hands, wrists, fingers, forearms, or elbows
• Tingling, coldness, or numbness in the hands
• Clumsiness or loss of strength and coordination in the hands
• Pain that wakes you up at night
• Feeling a need to massage your hands, wrists, and arms

Solutions

Early reporting of symptoms is essential to avoid these conditions becoming disabling. Symptoms should ease with rest and relief from DSE work activity but will resume if no changes are made to the cause.

Visual Disturbance and Fatigue

DSE work does not cause damage to eyesight but may highlight pre-existing defects.

Causes

• Reduced blinking when staring at the screen.
• Glare and reflections.
• Incorrect viewing distance to the screen. Try about your arms length.
• Lack of suitable D.S.E work breaks. (Playing computer games at lunch time for example does not give your eyes a break).
• Low humidity levels.
• Inappropriate lighting. Too much light is as bad as too little. Try c. 500 lux on your paper work.

Common symptoms

• Tired sore eyes
• Dry eyes
• Blurred vision or difficulty with focussing
• Headaches

Solutions

• Take frequent breaks
• Exercise your eyes by blinking, focussing on distant objects
• Reposition your screen
• Use window blinds to avoid glare.
• Check viewing distance for comfort (about arms length. 60cm-80cm)
• Keep your screen clean
• Switch off equipment at least your monitor when not in use to reduce heat emission
• Have an eyesight test. FREE ON REQUEST FOR ALL DSE USERS. (DSE REGULATIONS).
• Use contrast/light buttons of monitor to adjust screen presentation.
• If you suffer from reflections on your screen and are working on a dark background with light text, swap so that you work on a light background with dark text.

Mental Stress

Working with DSE has particular factors which contribute to stress / or undue pressure.

Causes

• Maybe poor job design and work organisation
• Poor working environment
• High speed repetitive working
• Social isolation
• Deadlines to be met and peak workloads
• Interruptions
• Inappropriate software
• Inadequate training and skills to use your software

Symptoms
are varied but may include:

• Tension and irritability
• Reduced work efficiency
• Headaches

Solutions

• Correct obvious defects in the workstation
• Good design of tasks is important as is DSE and software training
• Vary work activity