1. Do Employers have to do risk assessments if they employ less than five?
2. Do homeworkers come under the Health and Safety at Work Act?
3. Is it illegal to lift more than 25kg at work?
4. Can working with VDUs affect eyesight?
5. Do employers have to pay for eye tests and glasses?
6. Are pregnant workers at risk from VDUs?
7. What is portable electrical equipment?
8. Do I have to have my desk lamp TESTED every six months?
9. Do I need a qualified electrician to inspect my quipment?
1. Do Employers have to do risk assessments if they employ less than five?
Yes - all employers need to identify significant risk, however, although beneficial they do not need to record their findings.
2. Do homeworkers come under the Health and Safety at Work Act?
Yes - including most of the associated regulations.
3. Is it illegal to lift more than 25kg at work?
No - the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 provide guidance on where detailed assessments are required, they do not set limits.
4. Can working with VDUs affect eyesight?
There are no indications that VDUs will cause disease or permanent damage to eyes, but fatigue can cause discomfort and may exacerbate existing conditions.
5. Do employers have to pay for eye tests and glasses?
If the employee is classed as a user, yes - on request the employer should arrange an eye and eyesight test, and provide spectacles if special ones are needed.
6. Are pregnant workers at risk from VDUs?
Although there has been some concern about reports of higher levels of miscarriage and birth defects among some groups of VDU workers, many scientific studies, taken as a whole, do not show a link, however anxious pregnant workers should take medical advice about electrical equipment.
7. What is portable electrical equipment?
Generally, equipment that has a lead and plug and which is normally moved around or can easily be moved from place to place.
8. Do I have to have my desk lamp TESTED every six months?
No - most electrical equipment in offices can be visually inspected for signs of damage or faults every 2 to 4 years.
9. Do I need a qualified electrician to inspect my quipment?
Not necessary for the kind of equipment normally used in low-risk environments. Any sensible competent member of staff can do it with appropriate knowledge and training.
