Reading List

The sources below are official guidance that support this course. They are grouped so learners and supervisors can find the most relevant material quickly. Use HSE guidance for England, Wales and Scotland, and HSENI guidance for Northern Ireland.

Core DSE Guidance

• HSE: Working safely with display screen equipment
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/index.htm
  The HSE overview for DSE: who counts as a DSE user, employer duties and the risks from poorly designed workstations or environments.
• HSE: Workstations and assessment
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/assessment.htm
  Explains when workstation assessments are needed, what they should cover and when to review them after changes or reported discomfort.
• HSE: DSE workstation checklist
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/ck1.htm
  A practical checklist for assessing keyboards, mouse or trackball, display screens, software, furniture and the work environment.

Posture, Breaks and Eyes

• HSE: Good posture when using display screen equipment
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/good-posture.htm
  Practical setup guidance for screen, keyboard, mouse, chair and laptop use. Useful for shared care-home workstations and extended e-learning sessions.
• HSE: Work routine and breaks
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/work-routine.htm
  Covers the requirement for breaks or changes of activity and gives practical advice on short, frequent breaks.
• HSE: Eyes and eyesight testing
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/eye-tests.htm
  Explains DSE user rights to eye tests, visual symptoms linked to prolonged screen work, and the limited situations when DSE-specific glasses must be provided.

Ergonomics and Musculoskeletal Risk

• HSE: Upper limb disorders
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/uld/index.htm
  Describes symptoms and risk factors such as repetition, awkward posture, insufficient breaks, force and work organisation.
• HSE: Managing upper limb disorders in the workplace
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg171.htm
  A concise guide for employers on recognising upper limb symptoms, identifying causes and managing risks where screen work combines with scanning, typing, tablet use or other repetitive tasks.
• HSE: Lighting, thermal comfort, working space, noise and vibration
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/humanfactors/topics/lighting.htm
  Wider ergonomic guidance on how lighting, contrast, glare, space and comfort affect performance and safety.

Home, Hybrid and Northern Ireland Signposting

• HSE: Working with display screen equipment at home
  https://www.hse.gov.uk/msd/dse/home-working.htm
  Not the main focus for most frontline care staff, but relevant for managers, senior staff or those who regularly work or train away from the workplace.
• HSENI: Display Screen Equipment
  https://www.hseni.gov.uk/topics/display-screen-equipment
  Northern Ireland guidance on DSE, including employer duties, assessment, control measures, training, breaks, eye tests and risk factors.