Ensure Your Home Workers Are Safe With VDUs

Working with Visual Display Units (VDU) is the main area that most employers have to deal with when their employees work remotely or work from home. They have a duty to make sure that they display screen equipment used by home workers is safe and does not affect the workers health. When working from home with VDUs it is important for workers to adjust their workstation to a comfortable position and take breaks from work, which will prevent undue tiredness.

Remember to advise employees to stretch and change position regularly to help reduce tiredness and prevent pains in the hands, wrists, arms, neck, shoulders or back. VDUs need to be placed in a position where lighting will not cause reflections or glare on the screen. It is also important for homeworkers to view the screen comfortably.

Employees may need different glasses for VDU usage and home workers should consult thier GP or Optician if in doubt. Legally they are entitled to request an eye test and to recieve reimbursements from their employer or any costs incurred.

Employers checklist for home working with VDUs:

1) Is the screen clear and readable, and without flicker?

2) Is the screen free from glare and reflections?

3) Are the brightness and contrast controls properly adjusted to prevent eyestrain?

4) Is ther suitable lighting so that the fine detail on the screen can be seen and read?

5) Is the keyboard placed in the right position to allow the home worker to work comfortably?

6) Is the screen and computer clean and free from dust dirt?

7) Can the chair be adjusted to the right height so that work can be done comfortably?

8) Is the VDU positioned to allow work to be done comfortably, for example, without making any awkward movements?

9) Is there enough space under the desk to allow free movement?

10) Is there enough space in general so that the home worker can move freely between the work on the desk and the VDU?

Source: Homeworking guide for employers and employees on health and safety, a report by the Health and Safety Executive  (HSE).

If you require further information on how Remote Employment can help you with your company benefit from remote and flexible working, please contact Ken Sheridan on ken@remoteemployment.com.