he Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992) cover the use of computers at work.

Many companies have policies on eyesight tests, so check with your personnel, health and safety, occupational health or union safety representatives. An assessment of the workplace should be carried out to identify computer users.

The whole workstation set-up can affect an individual’s ability to work without fatigue or stress, so it is very important that the workstation is set up correctly. There is no reliable evidence that work with display screen equipment causes any permanent damage to eyes or eyesight, but it may make users with pre-existing vision defects more aware of them, and may give some users temporary visual fatigue or headaches. Uncorrected vision defects can make working at display screens more tiring or stressful than it should be, and correcting defects can improve comfort, job satisfaction and performance.

The regulations require employers to provide an appropriate eyesight test to users who request one. The test includes a test of vision and an examination of the eye. For the purpose of the Display Screen Equipment Regulations, the test should take account of the nature of the users’ work, including the distance at which the screen is viewed.

Display screen users are not obliged to have such tests performed but, where they choose to exercise their entitlement, employers should offer an examination by a registered optician, or a registered medical practitioner with suitable qualifications. They are free, however, to specify that a particular company or professional provide the test.

The provision of eye and eyesight tests and glasses under the Regulations is at the expense of the employer. This is the case even if the user works on other employers’ workstations. Glasses for normal use are at the user’s own expense. Glasses needed specifically for display screen work should be paid for by the employer, but this liability is restricted to payment of a basic pair. If users wish to choose more costly appliances the employer is not obliged to pay for these, but may either provide a basic pair, or contribute a portion of the total cost of a luxury pair.

If an individual is allowed to choose their own glasses to correct eye or vision defects, which include display screen work but go wider than that, employers need contribute only the costs attributable to the requirements of the display screen work involved.

It should be noted that experience has shown that in most working populations only a minority (usually less than 10%) will need special corrective appliances for display screen work. Employees who need these may include users who already wear spectacles or contact lenses, or others who have uncorrected vision defects.

Anti-glare screens and other devices that purport to protect against radiation are not special corrective appliances.

A free leaflet is available from HSE Books (Tel: 01788 881165).
Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations (1992)HSE Books ISBN: 0717604101

Visit HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk