Health and Safety

Health and safety legislation imposes a duty on employers to appoint a health and safety representative who will be responsible for ensuring that the organisation complies with the current legislation. There should therefore be no doubt that the employer is providing VDU's that meet the required electromagnetic emissions standards and work-stations that meet the standards designed to reduce back, neck and wrist problems. Ambient lighting and screen reflection standards should also be met as a matter of course.

A procedure for regular health and safety checks will be set up by the health and safety representative. Some arrangement must be set up to allow any identified breeches to be reported and corrected. This will involve a channel of communication between the representative and the management.

It may be necessary to check older equipment to ensure that it complies with current regulations. The directives came into force at the end of 1992 for new equipment but all equipment should have been brought up to standard by the end of 1996

Those employees who have a supervisory or management role need to be made aware of the regulations so that they ensure compliance with health and safety regulation.

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