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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
-
Workplace wellbeing and psychological risk management - particularly relevant for remote workers
-
Health and safety audits covering your overall DSE compliance arrangements
-
Retained Competent Person support for ongoing DSE obligations as your workforce changes
-
Safety management systems and documentation including DSE policies and procedures
-
Staff training across health and safety topics relevant to office and home-based workers
