To provide a self assessment check list for the analysis of workstations to assess and reduce the risks of poor health to both: Employees of Greencore Group and Self employed persons working at Greencore Group workstations.

The Process of Risk Assessment of VDU Workstations.
Draw up a list of names of company Users and Operators
on a register (see appendix C) at your location.

Issue a self assessment form to each User and Operator indicating a time scale for the document's return. The document should then be reviewed by a member of the Management Team with an Employee Representative.

If necessary complete action column indicating:

a) What remedial work is required;
b) Who is to complete the necessary work
(i.e. Manager, Supervisor, the User or Operator);
c) The date by which the work is to be completed.

Note:
Old workstations (e.g. those in use prior to the 1st January 1993) must have been brought up to the minimum regulatory requirement by 1st January 1997.

All workstations in operation from 1st January 1993 must meet the requirements immediately.

There is no exemption if the Operator or User is in serious or imminent danger.

Those areas that can not easily be assessed from the information supplied should be inspected.

Allocate the frequency of re-assessment e.g., one, two or three years.

File all registers and assessment forms for a minimum of 30 years.

This legislation is likely to be liability led and under certain circumstances the assessment forms will be required.

Related Documents
Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (MHSW Regs) 1992.
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment ) Regulations 1992.

Definitions:

"User", means an employee who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of his or her work.
"Operator", means a self employed person who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of his or her work.

Note:
The regulations are also applicable to "Users" or "Operators" who are required to work at home on equipment supplied by Greencore Group.

Legal Requirements:

The MHSW Regs 1992 implement the EC Framework Directive and require every employer to make a suitable and sufficient assessment of:

a) The risks to the health and safety of their employees to which they are exposed whilst they are at work; and

b) The risks to health and safety of persons not in their employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by their undertaking.

For the purpose of identifying the measures to be taken to comply with the requirements and prohibitions reference should be made to the relevant statutory provision, (e.g.; The Health and Safety Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992).

Frequency of Assessment:

The risk assessment is required to be maintained and reviewed when appropriate. This means that significant change to a process or activity (i.e. moving the equipment to a new area or supplying new or replacement equipment) will require re-assessment.

In addition to this, the risk assessment should be periodically reviewed and updated. The frequency of review depends on the level of risk in the operation but should not exceed ten years.

Recording the Assessment:

The assessment must be recorded (electronic methods are acceptable) where more than five persons are employed, even if these employees are spread over a number of locations.

Generic Assessments:

Generic assessments are assessments produced only once for a given activity or type of workplace (e.g. a large typing pool, or where a company has a number of locations where the same activity is carried out under the same conditions).

Warning
generic assessments can result in very poor control and no improvements in safety.

Eye Sight Testing:

The use of Keystone equipment should be avoided in favour of a formal eye sight test.
Further information can be obtained via Wrexham.

Main sources of Information

The Health and Safety 
(Display Screen Equipment Regulations 1992 and supporting guidance).

Risk Assessment A Practical Guide, Brian M Kazer