Visual Display Unit (VDU) or Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessments are required under the 2007 General Application Regulations. They must be undertaken on all computer workstations where an employee spends 1 hour or more per day on average or are habitual users of VDU/DSE equipment.

The purpose is to assess the ergonomic suitability of the workstation, work equipment and surrounding environment and its compliance with the 2007 General Application Regulations. Incorrect VDU/DSE layout can cause various problems including musculoskeletal disorders, repetitive strain injury, visual fatigue and increased stress levels, amongst others.

Self-assessments, including those conducted using free or purchased software, are not sufficient and assessments should be conducted by a competent third party. Also, assessments should be based on the user at their workstation and if there are changes to either, then the assessment should be repeated.