Is Your Desk Trying to Tell You Something?

If you're reading this at a desk right now, take a quick moment. Are your shoulders by your ears? Is your neck craned forward to read the screen? Is your laptop balanced on a stack of books because you haven’t got around to buying a proper stand? You're not alone, and the consequences of a poor workstation setup are a great deal more serious than most of us appreciate.

What Is a DSE Assessment and Who Needs One?

A Display Screen Equipment (DSE) assessment is a structured review of how a worker interacts with their workstation. It is required under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992, amended in 2002. The Regulations apply to any worker classed as a 'DSE user' broadly this is, someone who uses display screen equipment such as a PC, laptop, tablet or smartphone daily, for continuous periods of an hour or more, as a significant part of their work.

Importantly, DSE covers far more than the screen itself. A workstation includes the chair, desk, keyboard, mouse, lighting, and the wider work environment including temperature, glare and noise. The duty applies to office-based, home, hybrid, mobile and hot-desking workers alike.

The Real Cost of Poor Workstation Setup: UK Statistics 2024/25

The latest figures from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) tell a striking story. The economic case for getting DSE compliance right has never been clearer.

Key Statistics at a Glance

•       511,000 UK workers suffered from work-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) in 2024/25 (HSE).

•       7.1 million working days were lost to MSDs in 2024/25 (HSE).

•       MSDs remain the largest single category of work-related ill health in Great Britain.

•       Workplace injuries and ill health cost the UK economy approximately £21.6 billion per year (HSE).

•       Around 28% of workers now work from home at least some of the time (Office for National Statistics).

•       Institute for Employment Studies research found a 58% increase in neck pain, 56% in shoulder pain and 55% in back pain when workers shifted to home working.

Do the DSE Regulations Apply to Home and Hybrid Workers?

Yes and this is where many employers slip up. In 2022, the HSE issued clear guidance confirming that the DSE Regulations apply equally to home and hybrid workstations, not just office desks. If your team member is a 'DSE user', your duties travel with them through their front door. That means a real assessment of their actual home setup, action on what you find, and reassessment when working patterns change.

The overarching duty under Section 2 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 reinforces this: employers must protect the health, safety and welfare of employees so far as is reasonably practicable, regardless of where the work takes place.

The Legal and Civil Claims Risk for UK Employers

There's a sharper edge to all this. In civil personal injury claims for work-related MSDs, the very first document a claimant's solicitor will request is the DSE assessment. Its absence or even its presence on paper with no evidence that flagged issues were addressed is among the strongest evidence of breach of duty an employer can hand over.

There's also an important overlap with the Equality Act 2010, which requires reasonable adjustments for disabled workers. Adjustments to workstation equipment, posture support, screen settings or work patterns frequently fall within this and a well-run DSE process makes spotting and meeting these needs much easier.

How to Get DSE Compliance Right

Doing this properly does not mean buying expensive kit for everyone. It means a consistent, evidence-based process:

•       Carry out an individual workstation assessment not just a generic e-learning module ticked off at induction.

•       Act on what the assessment finds. The monitor riser actually arrives. The chair really does get replaced.

•       Reassess when something changes such as equipment, location, working pattern, pregnancy, or a reported discomfort.

•       Apply the same rigour to home and hybrid workstations as to office ones.

•       Provide eye and eyesight tests on request, and corrective glasses where needed specifically for DSE work.

•       Train your users so they know how to set up, adjust and use their workstation safely.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is a DSE user under UK law?

A. A DSE user is someone who uses display screen equipment (PCs, laptops, tablets) daily for continuous periods of an hour or more as a significant part of their work. This includes office, home, hybrid and hot-desking workers.

Q. Do I need to do a DSE assessment for home workers?

A. Yes. HSE guidance confirms that the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 apply equally to home and hybrid workstations. The assessment should cover the actual setup the worker uses, including chair, desk, screen, lighting and environment.

Q. How often should a DSE assessment be reviewed?

A. Whenever something changes, new equipment, a change of location, a shift to more home or hybrid working, a reported discomfort, pregnancy, or a relevant health condition. As a minimum, review periodically as part of your wider health and safety arrangements.

Q. Can poor DSE setup lead to a legal claim?

A. Yes. Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are a leading cause of civil personal injury claims against employers. The absence of an adequate DSE assessment is often cited as key evidence of breach of duty under the DSE Regulations 1992 and the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.