The Short Guide to Workstation Setup
Workstation Setup: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
Arranging a desk, chair and screen to reduce discomfort during sustained work.
Key takeaways
- Legal duty: DSE assessment required for regular display screen users
- Screen position: top of the screen roughly at eye level, an arm's length away
- Most useful single change: Ask for a DSE assessment; your employer must provide one.
- Commonest mistake: Working from a laptop on a soft surface for long periods.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Legal duty | DSE assessment required for regular display screen users |
| Screen position | top of the screen roughly at eye level, an arm's length away |
| Break interval | change position every 30 minutes or so |
| Free eye tests | employers must fund them for DSE users |
In one paragraph
Employers have a legal duty to assess workstations, and the largest single factor is still how long you stay in one position.
Worth doing
- Ask for a DSE assessment; your employer must provide one
- Set the chair first, then the desk, then the screen
- Keep frequently used items within easy reach
- Change position regularly rather than holding one perfect posture
Worth avoiding
- Working from a laptop on a soft surface for long periods
- Holding a phone between ear and shoulder
- Assuming equipment alone solves it without movement breaks
Where to go next
- Understanding Workstation Setup: A Plain-English Explainer
- Workstation Setup: A Practical Checklist
- Workstation Setup — the reference entry
- Core Strength: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- Lifting Safely: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP for persistent numbness, tingling or weakness in the hands or arms, which can indicate nerve compression. Seek urgent assessment for pain with weakness in both legs, or any bladder or bowel changes. Report work-related symptoms to your employer and occupational health.
Where this comes from
- Health and Safety Executive — display screen equipment
- NHS — Common posture mistakes
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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