Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Assessments
Protecting Your People at Their Desks - Wherever They're Working.
Practical, thorough DSE assessments that reduce musculoskeletal risk, support employee wellbeing, and keep your organisation compliant - whether your team is in the office, at home, or both.
What We Do
For the majority of office-based workers, their workstation is where they spend most of their working day. A poorly set-up workstation - the wrong chair height, a screen at the wrong angle, a keyboard that causes repetitive strain - can cause significant musculoskeletal problems over time. These are entirely preventable, and preventing them is a legal requirement.
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The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 require employers to carry out a suitable assessment of every workstation used by a DSE user, reduce any risks identified, ensure adequate breaks, provide eye and eyesight tests on request, and provide appropriate training and information.
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At Harlequins, we deliver DSE assessments that are practical, thorough, and genuinely useful - not a self-assessment form ticked and filed. We work with your people directly, ensuring they have a workstation that supports their health and a clear understanding of how to use it safely.
Why it matters
Work-related musculoskeletal disorders - including back pain, neck and shoulder problems, and upper limb disorders - are among the most common causes of workplace ill-health and sickness absence in the UK. For DSE users, a poorly set-up workstation is frequently a contributing factor.
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The shift to remote and hybrid working has significantly increased the risk for many organisations. Home workstations are often improvised - kitchen tables, sofas, laptop screens without external monitors - and the oversight that exists in an office environment is absent. Many employers have DSE obligations for homeworkers that they are simply not meeting.
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Beyond the human impact, the cost of musculoskeletal absence - in lost productivity, sickness payments, and potential civil claims - is substantial and largely avoidable.
Services we provide
On-Site Workstation Assessment: A physical assessment of each workstation by a trained assessor - covering seating, screen position, keyboard and mouse placement, lighting, and the individual's working habits. Each assessment results in a written report with specific, practical adjustments and recommendations.
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Remote & Homeworker Assessment Support: For remote or hybrid workers, we provide structured remote assessment support - guiding employees through a thorough self-assessment process with professional oversight, ensuring home workstations are set up correctly and any significant issues are identified and addressed.
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DSE Assessment Documentation: We develop clear, easy-to-use DSE assessment documentation tailored to your organisation - ensuring your assessment process is consistent, compliant, and properly recorded.
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DSE Awareness Training: Practical training for employees covering the risks associated with DSE work, how to set up their workstation correctly, the importance of breaks and posture variation, and how to report concerns - delivered face-to-face or through a bespoke digital module.
Our approach
We approach DSE assessments as a support exercise, not an inspection. Our assessors work with your people directly - talking through how they work, what discomfort if any they're experiencing, and what adjustments might help. The goal is always a practical outcome for the individual, not just a completed form.
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For larger organisations with significant numbers of DSE users, we can design and implement a scalable assessment programme — combining on-site assessments for higher-risk individuals with a supported self-assessment process for others, and a clear system for recording, reviewing, and following up.
Additional Support
DSE assessments sit naturally alongside our broader support offer, including:
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Workplace wellbeing and psychological risk management - particularly relevant for remote workers
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Health and safety audits covering your overall DSE compliance arrangements
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Retained Competent Person support for ongoing DSE obligations as your workforce changes
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Safety management systems and documentation including DSE policies and procedures
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Staff training across health and safety topics relevant to office and home-based workers
