Posted By Robin V Boughton I suggest that he buys just one laptop and trials it to discover the problems that its constant use is likely to highlight. An assessment under the Display Screen Equipment Regs 1992 must be undertaken and any necessary control measures implemented. I use a lap top and to accomodate my eyes I have to use an external keyboard and mouse as the laptop keyboard brings the screen to close for comfort.

Posted By Mark Sims The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002 will apply and, in my opinion, they make (via guidance referred to below) a separate keyboard and mouse together with some phone books to raise the laptop all a legal requirement under the circumstances described. For more information see ‘Work with display screen equipment. Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 as amended by the Health and Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2002. Guidance on Regulations’ L26 (Second edition) ISBN 0 7176 2582 6 and http://www.hse.gov.uk/a-z/d.htm#display_equipment

Posted By Richard Mathews Laptops are fine to use as main PCs as long as they are docked into a docking station with a full size monitor and separate key board and mouse. Used on their own they do not fully meet the requirements for equipment as described in Schedule 1 of DSE Regs, as follows: 2(b) [Display screen] The characters on the screen shall be well-defined and clearly formed, of adequate size and with adequate spacing between the characters and lines. The image on the screen should be stable, with no flickering or other forms of instability. The brightness and the contrast between the characters and the background shall be easily adjustable by the operator or user, and also be easily adjustable to ambient conditions. The screen must swivel and tilt easily and freely to suit the needs of the operator or user. It shall be possible to use a separate base for the screen or an adjustable table. The screen shall be free of reflective glare and reflections liable to cause discomfort to the operator or user. 2(c) [Keyboard] The keyboard shall be tiltable and separate from the screen so as to allow the operator or user to find a comfortable working position avoiding fatigue in the arms or hands. The space in front of the keyboard shall be sufficient to provide support for the hands and arms of the operator or user. The keyboard shall have a matt surface to avoid reflective glare. The arrangement of the keyboard and the characteristics of the keys shall be such as to facilitate the use of the keyboard. The symbols on the keys shall be adequately contrasted and legible from the design working position.

Posted By Ian Haylett I would ask the company why they want to replace the PCs with laptops when mobility is not required. Laptops are a lot more expensive and harder/more expensive to upgrade. The only advantage to laptops (apart from mobility which you say is not the reason) is that they take up less room. If this is the reason then they should be looking at flat monitors which at £200 to £300 are a lot less than laptops (and would allow you to put the screen in the middle of the desk right in front of you which is the ideal position) or changing the PCs to desktop or tower models (which will fit under the desk subject to space and ventilation). If they still intend on going ahead with laptops then as a minimum you should insist on retaining your existing monitor, keyboard and mouse which (with a splitter cable) will all plug into the laptop. You would then only have to use the laptop once a day to switch it on and would then use your existing keyboard/mouse and monitor. Finally, if you are using computers 8 hours a day 5 days a week you should be getting regular breaks/change of activity. If not get a DSE assessment immediately otherwise RSI (among other muscular skeletal problems) await!