A DSE (display screen equipment) assessment is a documented analysis of an employee's workstation, including their screen, keyboard, chair, desk and surrounding environment. It checks the workstation against the minimum requirements in Schedule 4 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007, and identifies risks to eyesight, physical problems such as back, neck and upper limb discomfort, and mental stress. Irish employers are legally required to carry one out for every employee who habitually uses a screen as a significant part of their normal work.

Yes. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and Chapter 5 of Part 2 of the General Application Regulations 2007, employers must analyse each DSE user's workstation, take steps to fix any risks found, and keep a written record. The analysis must be carried out by a competent person, and the results must be shared with the employee. You can read the Health and Safety Authority's guide to the DSE Regulations for full details.

The Regulations apply to employees who habitually use display screen equipment as a significant part of their normal work. The Health and Safety Authority's guidance says an employee is likely to be covered if they have no choice but to use a screen to do their job, if they normally use it for continuous periods of more than one hour, or if they use it on a daily basis. This includes most office staff and hybrid workers.

The Regulations require the workstation analysis to be carried out by a competent person. The Health and Safety Authority defines a competent person as someone with sufficient training, experience and knowledge to analyse a workstation. You can use a qualified external assessor, like the KOS Ergonomics team, or train a member of your own staff to become your in-house DSE assessor.

Yes. Many organisations train an HR, health and safety or facilities team member so they can assess new starters and workstation changes in-house. KOS runs DSE / VDU assessor training courses, including Level 1 for new assessors, Level 2 advanced and refresher training, and a course on carrying out compliant remote assessments. Courses run live online via Microsoft Teams or on-site for groups, and attendees receive a CPD-approved certificate valid for three years. Training gives your assessor the knowledge and skills they need, and their competence grows with practical experience.

Not on its own. The Health and Safety Authority's guidance states that it isn't enough to let employees assess their own workstations using a software package. The employer must be actively involved in completing a physical analysis of each workstation, carried out by a competent person. Questionnaires can be a useful first step, but they don't replace a proper assessment.

Our qualified assessor visits your workplace and evaluates each workstation against the Schedule 4 minimum requirements, covering posture, chair, screen, keyboard and mouse, desk space, lighting, glare and the wider working environment. The employee has the chance to discuss any discomfort or concerns during the assessment. Afterwards, each employee receives a personalised report with practical recommendations, and when we assess multiple employees you also receive a management summary.

An individual in-person assessment takes about 45 minutes. For teams, you can book a half-day or full-day visit and our assessor works through your employees one by one with minimal disruption to the working day.

The analysis must be documented. The Health and Safety Authority recommends that the record includes a brief overview of the tasks carried out at the workstation, evidence that all Schedule 4 requirements were considered, any issues found, and an action plan showing who will fix them and by when. A copy should be given to the employee. KOS reports are designed to give you this written record.

An assessment must be carried out when an employee starts working with display screen equipment. The Regulations also require a new assessment when an employee moves to a new workstation, or when significant new equipment or technology is introduced at their workstation. You should also review an assessment if an employee reports discomfort, as your risk assessments must be kept up to date. The law doesn't set a fixed interval beyond this, but many organisations choose to review assessments periodically, for example annually.

The DSE Regulations don't apply to portable screen equipment that isn't in prolonged use at a workstation, because a laptop's keyboard isn't separate from the screen. However, a risk assessment must still be carried out on how the laptop is used and on the temporary laptop setup. Where a laptop is used for long periods, the Health and Safety Authority recommends connecting it to a separate monitor and keyboard so the workstation can be assessed properly.

Yes. Employers must make an appropriate eye and eyesight test, carried out by a competent person, available to every DSE user before they start screen work, at regular intervals after that, and whenever they experience visual difficulties that may be caused by screen work. If the test shows that the employee needs glasses specifically for screen work, the employer must pay for the minimum requirement frames and lenses.

Employers must plan work so that screen work is regularly broken up by breaks or changes of activity. The Regulations don't set a fixed break schedule, but the Health and Safety Authority's guidance is that, in general, no single continuous period of screen work should last more than one hour. Short, frequent breaks away from the screen are better than longer, occasional ones.

An on-site assessment lets the assessor see the real workstation, equipment and environment, and make recommendations based on how the employee actually works. It helps you meet your legal obligations, reduce discomfort and musculoskeletal issues, and support productivity and employee satisfaction. Every assessment comes with a tailored report and clear, practical next steps.

Yes. As well as assessments, KOS supplies ergonomic chairs, sit-stand desks and accessories, so you can act on the recommendations with one partner. You can also try equipment at our showrooms in Dublin and Tipperary.

Yes. We carry out in-person assessments in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and throughout Ireland, wherever your workplace is located.

Yes. As well as in-person assessments, we offer remote DSE assessments for hybrid and work-from-home staff, so your whole team is covered wherever they work.

Use the quote form below or speak to one of our experts. Tell us whether you need an individual, half-day or full-day assessment, and our team will confirm your needs and availability and send you a quote.