A remote DSE (display screen equipment) assessment is a workstation risk assessment carried out over a live video call. A qualified assessor observes the employee at their home or remote workstation, reviews their screen, keyboard, mouse, chair, desk and environment, and checks how they sit and work. The employee then receives a written report with practical recommendations.

Yes. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) states that its DSE guidance, written for office settings, applies equally to remote working. The DSE Regulations (Chapter 5 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007) do not require the assessment to take place in person. What matters is that a competent person carries out the assessment and that it is documented.

Any employee who habitually uses a computer, laptop or other screen as a significant part of their normal work is a DSE user, and their workstation must be assessed wherever they work. For hybrid employees, that means assessing both their office workstation and their home setup, because each carries different risks.

Not on its own. The HSA states that it is not sufficient to let employees assess their own workstations using a software package or other means, because analysing each workstation is the employer's duty. Self-assessment checklists can be a useful way to gather information, but the assessment itself should be carried out or reviewed by a competent person.

The HSA says a DSE assessment must be carried out by a competent person, meaning someone with sufficient training, experience and knowledge to assess a workstation. All KOS assessors are trained in ergonomics, anatomy and physiology, and carry out assessments to the requirements of the Irish DSE Regulations.

Yes. Many organisations build an internal assessor team, use an external provider, or combine both. KOS runs a dedicated Remote DSE Assessor course for assessing home and remote workers, alongside our Level 1 course for in-office assessments. Together, these two courses cover hybrid workforces. See our DSE and VDU training course guide, or download our Internal vs External DSE Assessor Models guide to compare the options.

Assess each DSE user when they start and carry out a new assessment whenever something changes. The HSA lists a move to a new workstation or the introduction of new equipment or technology as triggers for reassessment. It is also good practice to reassess when an employee reports discomfort or moves to a new home setup. Many employers also review assessments periodically as part of their safety management system.

Where an employee's remote work involves using display screen equipment at a workstation, the HSA's remote working guidance says employers will need to provide equipment such as a mouse, keyboard and monitor, in addition to a suitable desk and chair. Employees can use their own equipment if it is deemed suitable. The assessment identifies exactly what each person needs, and KOS can supply the recommended ergonomic equipment.

Yes. Under the DSE Regulations, employers must make an appropriate eye and eyesight test available to DSE users before they start display screen work, at regular intervals afterwards, and if they experience visual difficulties. Where a special corrective appliance, such as glasses for screen work, is needed, the employer must provide it. This applies to remote and hybrid workers in the same way as office staff.

Just a laptop, tablet or phone with a camera and a stable internet connection, set up where they normally work. During the call, the assessor may ask them to move the camera to show their chair, desk, screen position and surroundings. Each individual assessment takes about 45 minutes.

We offer individual assessments for one employee, half-day sessions for up to eight employees, and full-day sessions for up to sixteen employees, depending on the assessment type. Group bookings include individual reports plus a management summary for your records.

These situations usually need a more detailed evaluation. Our detailed ergonomic assessments are designed for pregnancy, medical and on-demand needs, and can be carried out remotely or in person depending on the individual.