Posted By Stuart Woolfries In my office there are a number of desks used by more than one individual. Is it necessary to conduct a VDU assessment for each officer each time they are at a desk? How should this scenario be managed from the point of view of VDU assessments?

Posted By Ken Taylor However, in addition to checking the workstations, there are user/operator-specific issues that will need to be adressed and you will see that the so-called VDU Workstation Check-list provided as Appendix 5 in HSE guidance document L26 gives standard questions for users regarding any problems, discomfort or other symptoms experienced, whether they are taking adequate breaks from the VDU and eyesight testing. You will also need to ensure that records are kept for this aspect of the DSE Regs. Personally, I use one standard check-list and see each user at their workstation in order to cover all these points - but others may not find this practicable and deal with the personal issues separately.

Posted By jason telford It's simple: carry out a DSE Assessment on each user so they know how to set up a work station in any area i used to work at a call centre (1400) staff and this issue was not a problem we even brought in an electronic assessment system to save time and money

Posted By Ken Taylor To follow on from J Knight's point above: although employers are now required to ensure that all DSE workstations meet the requirements of the Schedule to the Regs, the terms 'user' and 'operator' remain strictly defined (and explained on several pages of L26) in as much as further duties are owed to them by the employer (eg under Regs 4, 5, 6 and 7). For this reason they have added the additional questions relevant to users in their standard check-list (as I mentioned earlier).

Posted By Ken Taylor John, The duty for training and information could also be argued from other legislation but I suppose that the drafters thought it best to still clarify it with specific regard to DSE. There is, of course, also the specific duty for the information to include health aspects of DSE use. However the duties for providing breaks from the screen, providing eye and eyesight tests and, where necessary, 'special corrective appliances' only relate to users - making the distinction necessary (unless you choose to provide these for everyone who ever looks at a screen or touches a keyboard). How the employer chooses to discharge these duties will vary but the HSE obviously see some benefit in keeping these items within their check-list. So to clarify for some other readers: the distinction of users and non-users is not required for assessing the actual workstations generally; but the distinction is required with regard to other duties under the DSE Regs - which may necessitate further action, assessment, medical or eye checks, etc. Personally, I regret the 'hijacking' of the term 'user' by the drafters (presumably to avoid having to keep typing 'habitual and significant'!).