In today's modern age, an increasing number of the working population, are making use of display screen equipment visual display units, like computer screens, and other displays. Improper use of such displays and monitors, can cause to serious injuries, like back pains, eyestrain and even limb disorders. These types of injuries are often referred to as RSI.

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Surveys, studies and other research, conducted over the years have shown that employees working with this type of equipment, more often than others, report pains, aches and eye problems. In most cases there were no sign of any serious health problems, but nevertheless it still makes sense to avoid them if possible.

There are many things that can be done for preventing RSI from occurring, like proper screen adjustments, the right work posture and most important, taking breaks at proper intervals. In other to provide a set of guidelines for proper display screen equipment usage, the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations were instated in 1992, to provide a legal frame for employers to follow.

Bound by these guidelines, employers are required to perform an analysis of the work environment, in order to ensure it meets the proper criteria, for the work involved.
Work stations, have to be adjustable without any safety risks for the employee, and the employer is required to provide proper breaks at the required intervals, throughout the work day. A break from the DSE related work, does not imply a break in terms of free time for the employee, but merely is a requirement to interrupt the DSE tasks, it is perfectly acceptable to assign the employee to other non DSE related work, during that time.

It is preferred for breaks to occur in a natural fashion, but in case this is not an option, signaling software can be applied to indicate the proper time to take a break from the RSE related activities. For DSE related work, short breaks are preferred over less, but longer breaks.

Employees are entitled to proper training and instructions in order to make effective use of the equipment in safe and healthy fashion.

Periodical eye examinations must be provided, in case an employee requests it, free of charge. In case the result of such an examination is that the employee in questions needs spectacles due to the nature of his DSE work, these costs, are also for the employer.

These cost for spectacles due to an outcome of such an eye examination, cover the basic spectacles. Any special requests, designs and other modifications requested by the employee, are on his or her own account. In such an event, the employer is bound to pay for the basic spectacles, while all other costs are for the employee.

In cases where employees are working from their homes, the same rules and regulations apply, and the employer is legally bound to perform an assessment of the work environment at the home of the employee, in order to ensure the work station used, adheres to the same rules and regulations, as it would at a company office.