When this template fits
This RAMS is for UK contractors and office & workplace teams carrying out dse risk assessment — typically because a principal contractor or client has asked for a risk assessment and method statement before work can start. It covers the recognised site & general hazards for this task, with the controls a reviewer expects to see.
What this RAMS includes
- ✓ 8 task-specific hazards scored on a 5×5 matrix (initial → residual)
- ✓ Specific control measures for each hazard, in hierarchy-of-control order
- ✓ A 10-step method statement (sequence of works)
- ✓ PPE, plant/equipment, permits and competence requirements
- ✓ Emergency arrangements and operative briefing / sign-off section
Scope of works
Display Screen Equipment assessment (Health and Safety (DSE) Regulations 1992) — workstation, posture and breaks.
Sequence of works
- 1Identify all habitual DSE users within the workplace and confirm their entitlement to a formal workstation assessment under the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992.
- 2Brief users on the purpose of the DSE assessment, their rights (including eyesight testing entitlement), and the reporting procedure for discomfort or concerns.
- 3Conduct the workstation assessment for each user: check chair height and lumbar support, desk height, monitor distance (approximately 50–70 cm) and angle (top of screen at or slightly below eye level), keyboard and mouse position, and footrest requirement.
- 4Assess the visual environment: check for glare or reflections on the screen, measure or estimate illuminance levels, inspect blind or shading provision, and confirm screen brightness and contrast settings are appropriate.
- 5Review task design and work patterns: confirm that adequate breaks or changes of activity are scheduled and that workload demands are reasonable.
- 6Inspect all electrical equipment (monitors, cables, adaptors, extension leads) for visible damage; confirm PAT status is current and record any defects for immediate action.
- 7Check cable routing and housekeeping: ensure cables are managed and no walkways are obstructed by cables, bags or materials.
- 8Record the assessment findings, agreed corrective actions, person responsible and target completion date; communicate outcomes to the user and their line manager.
- 9Implement corrective actions (e.g. adjust chair, order ergonomic equipment, repair lighting, arrange PAT) and confirm completion within agreed timescales.
- 10Set a review date for the assessment (at minimum on any significant change to the workstation, task or user's health) and retain records in accordance with the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
Hazards, risk rating & controls
Risk = likelihood × severity (1–25). Initial is before controls; residual is with controls applied.
Musculoskeletal disorder from poor posture
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Where practicable, redesign tasks to allow standing, movement or varied postures rather than continuous seated DSE work.
- › Provide sit-stand desks or adjustable seating to allow postural variation and correct alignment of screen, keyboard and mouse.
- › Conduct a formal DSE workstation assessment for each habitual user covering chair height, monitor distance and angle, keyboard and mouse position, and lighting. Reassess on any significant change.
- › Instruct users to take short breaks or change activity for at least 5–10 minutes every hour; provide guidance on stretching exercises and correct posture.
Eye strain and visual fatigue
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Position monitor perpendicular to windows to minimise glare; adjust screen brightness and contrast to suit ambient lighting; use anti-glare screens where required.
- › Inform DSE users of their entitlement to request an eyesight test and, where required, provision of spectacles for DSE use specifically.
- › Advise users to look at an object 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes to reduce ciliary muscle fatigue.
Slips, trips and falls from trailing cables
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Substitute wired keyboards, mice and headsets with wireless equivalents to remove cable trip hazards at the workstation.
- › Route all cables through desk-mounted cable trays, floor boxes or trunking; secure with cable ties and ensure no cables cross pedestrian routes at floor level.
- › Include cable condition and routing in regular workplace inspections; ensure staff are instructed not to leave cables across walkways.
Slips, trips and falls from obstructed walkways
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Provide sufficient dedicated storage (pedestals, cupboards, shelving) so that materials are not left in walkways or emergency escape routes.
- › Implement and enforce a clear-desk policy; designate and mark clear walkways; conduct periodic housekeeping audits.
Upper limb disorder from keyboard and mouse use
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Provide ergonomic keyboards (split or low-profile) and vertical or trackball mice to reduce wrist deviation and muscle load.
- › Position keyboard so elbows are at approximately 90° and wrists are neutral; mouse positioned close to keyboard on same level; wrist rests provided if appropriate.
- › Rotate DSE-intensive tasks with non-DSE work where operationally feasible; enforce regular breaks to interrupt repetitive loading.
Work-related stress and mental health impact
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › As part of the DSE assessment, review workload demands, job design and degree of user control over pacing; address unreasonable demands with line management.
- › Ensure adequate rest breaks are scheduled and not routinely skipped; managers should actively support break-taking culture.
- › Provide clear reporting routes for stress or discomfort (e.g. occupational health referral, EAP); train line managers to recognise early signs of stress.
Electric shock from faulty DSE equipment
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Train users to visually check cables, plugs and equipment for damage before use and to report defects immediately; remove defective equipment from service.
- › Ensure all DSE equipment and associated electrical items are subject to a formal PAT programme at appropriate intervals determined by risk assessment; label items with test dates.
- › Establish and communicate a clear rule that damaged or non-PAT-tested equipment must not be used; provide adequate power sockets to prevent overloading.
Inadequate lighting causing glare or low illuminance
Who’s at risk: Operatives, Other trades on site
- › Specify and install lighting positioned to avoid direct or reflected glare on screens; use diffused luminaires and maintain illuminance levels appropriate for screen and document work (typically 300–500 lux).
- › Fit adjustable blinds to windows to control daylight glare without blocking natural light entirely.
- › Provide adjustable desk lamps for users who require additional local illuminance for paper documents alongside DSE work.
PPE
- ✓ Safety footwear (EN ISO 20345)
- ✓ Hi-vis clothing
- ✓ Safety gloves (task-appropriate)
- ✓ Hard hat (EN 397) where overhead risk or site rules require
- ✓ Insulated gloves where live work is unavoidable
Competence
- ✓ Site induction completed; CSCS or equivalent where the site requires it
Schemes (CSCS, PASMA, IPAF…) evidence competence; they are not statutory requirements in themselves.
Plant & equipment
- › Welfare units and signage
- › Barriers, cones and pedestrian segregation
- › First-aid kits and eye-wash
- › Spill kits
- › Communication (radios / lone-worker device)
Permits & legislation
What principal contractors usually check
- ✓ Welfare provision matching CDM 2015 Schedule 2
- ✓ Traffic management and pedestrian routes
- ✓ Lone-working check-in arrangements where relevant
- ✓ The document is site-specific — real address, access arrangements and dates, not a generic template
- ✓ Hazards match the actual task and the controls are specific (not “take care” and “use PPE”)
- ✓ Named supervisor and competent person, with operative sign-off space
- ✓ Emergency and rescue arrangements that work for this site
The report builder runs these as pre-submission checks before you download — or run an existing document through the free RAMS pre-submission checker.
Frequently asked questions
Who should write a dse risk assessment RAMS?
Someone competent to plan the work — usually the contractor doing the job or their supervisor. A template like this gives you the recognised hazards and controls for dse risk assessment, but the person signing it off must review it as the competent person and confirm it matches the actual site and method.
How long is the RAMS valid for?
Until something changes — there's no fixed expiry in law. Review it if the method, site conditions, equipment or people change, after any incident or near miss, and at sensible intervals on longer jobs. Date the review and re-brief the team.
What regulations apply to dse risk assessment?
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, reg 3 — risk assessment, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 are the main ones. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and CDM 2015 apply to all construction work.
Does a RAMS need to be site-specific?
Yes — this is the most common reason documents get sent back. Principal contractors reject generic copy-paste RAMS. Your document should name the site, access arrangements, dates, supervisor and any site-specific hazards. The RamsDocs builder fills these in for you and flags what's missing before you download.
Is this template free?
Yes — everything on RamsDocs is free during early access, including building a site-specific version of this RAMS and downloading the PDF. No card required.