Health and Safety

The content of this page concentrates only on Health and Safety issues relevant to the use of the Departments’s computers and display screen equipment. Please follow the links below to get more information on more general Health and Safety issues:

Departments Health and Safety Page

College Safety Office Homepage

There are two main areas of importance to consider regarding the use of computing facilities within the school. These are: Maintenance of computers and peripherals, and correct use of Display Screen Equipment.

Maintenance of Computers and Peripherals

Due to the sensitive and complex nature of computer equipment (not to mention the risks involved when dealing with 240V power supplies) only BSCSG staff and certain designated staff are permitted to perform any sort of maintenance on the School’s computers and peripherals. This includes PCs, SGs, monitors, keyboards, mice, printers, scanners (i.e. everything.) Unless you have been given explicit permission by BSCSG staff, you are not permitted to tamper with the aforementioned.

Display Screen Equipment

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has issued a set of objectives governing the use of Display Screen Equipment in their Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992. (Amended in 2002.) These require employers to provide safe and comfortable working conditions for users of VDUs, and also encourage employees to adjust their working environment in order to create safer and more comfortable working conditions for themselves.

The guidelines demonstrate ways in which you can:

  • Use your chair, desk, screen, mouse and keyboard correctly

  • Adapt your environment to suit yourself and the surroundings

  • Adopt a work pattern which minimises health risks (e.g. taking frequent breaks.)

The links below will give you a more detailed idea of how these objectives can be accomplished. It is strongly recommended that you take the time to read through at least some of the documentation, so that you can take steps to improve your working environment and working practices.

In the event that you feel your workstation and working environment does not meet the requirements governed by the HSE regulations, or that you are simply uncomfortable with your existing setup, then please contact BSCSG who will be happy to perform a formal assessment for you.