DSE Workstation Assessments

Yes. Laptop users are often at greater risk than employees using a fixed desktop setup because laptops encourage poor posture when used without additional peripherals. The assessment will evaluate the full setup including whether an external keyboard, mouse and screen are needed to bring the workstation to a safe standard.

Employers have a duty to offer assessments to all DSE users, but employees do have a degree of choice about whether to engage. If an employee declines, the important thing is to document that the offer was made and the response given. We can advise you on how to handle this situation and what your obligations are where an employee later reports symptoms.

Yes. Our assessors are experienced with a wide range of workstation configurations including standing desks, sit-stand desks, alternative seating options and non-standard setups. The assessment principles apply regardless of the furniture involved.

Contact our team by phone or through the enquiry form on this page. We will discuss the number of employees you need assessed, the locations involved and what an assessment programme would look like for your organisation. From there we can agree a schedule and get everything in place.

Under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, a DSE user is any employee who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work. This typically means those who use screens for an hour or more continuously each day. If you are unsure whether this applies to members of your workforce, we can help you make that determination.

Assessments should be reviewed whenever there is a significant change to a workstation setup, when an employee moves to a new location, or when a user reports discomfort or health concerns. As a general rule, it is good practice to revisit assessments every two years even where no changes have occurred, to ensure continued compliance.

Yes. The DSE regulations apply equally to employees working from home as to those based in a traditional office environment. Employers remain responsible for ensuring that home workstations are safe and suitable, and assessments should be carried out for all habitual DSE users regardless of where they are based.

Where an assessment identifies that an employee is experiencing discomfort or symptoms that may be related to their workstation, we will flag this clearly in our report and recommend appropriate next steps. This may include ergonomic adjustments, referral to occupational health, or further specialist review. Early intervention is key to preventing longer-term musculoskeletal problems.

Yes. We regularly work with organisations that operate across multiple locations, including regional offices and mixed home and office workforces. We can coordinate a programme of assessments across all of your sites and provide consolidated reporting to give you a complete compliance picture.

Our assessors are trained DSE specialists with recognised qualifications in ergonomics and workplace health and safety. They have practical experience across a broad range of industries and workstation environments, ensuring assessments are thorough, consistent and carried out to a high professional standard.

Yes. Following each assessment, we provide a clear written report detailing the findings for each workstation, any risks identified, and the recommended actions required. Reports are structured to make it straightforward for managers and HR teams to implement changes and demonstrate compliance if required by an enforcement authority.

Yes. Where an employee has a known disability, chronic condition or specific health need, the assessment will take this into account and recommendations will be tailored accordingly. This may include specialist equipment, adjusted working arrangements or referral to occupational health for further guidance. Reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 may also be relevant.

The most frequently identified issues include screens positioned at the wrong height or distance, chairs that are incorrectly adjusted, insufficient desk space leading to awkward postures, and inadequate lighting causing glare. Many of these problems are straightforward to correct once identified, often requiring no specialist equipment — simply repositioning existing furniture and peripherals.

A DSE assessment is a specific statutory requirement focused on the interaction between an individual employee and their workstation, including the screen, keyboard, mouse, chair, desk and environment. A general workplace risk assessment covers broader hazards across the work environment. Both are required by law but serve different purposes, and one does not substitute for the other.