Abbreviations
The following are umbrella terms covering all kinds of work-related injuries to the muscles, nerves, and tendons of the upper limbs.
In this section, they will be referred to as:
- DSE (Display Screen Equipment)
- VDU (Visual Display Unit),
- ULD (Upper Limb Disorder),
- RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
- OOS (Occupational Overuse Syndrome)
Workplace assessments
It is a legal requirement for all (mandatory for all members of the department and its students) 'VDU Users' to have a Workplace Assessment (online on the PACE platform) for each workstation they use (including for home office).
The assessment covers the machine itself and the immediate surroundings, such as the desk, and also takes into account the wider environment, such as lighting, and covers the user's job description and such things.
This needs to be repeated every two years or every time any of the factors change.
Departmental policy
The Departmental Policy is to go beyond the requirements of the Law, and undertakes full training and assessment for all members of the department and its students, which we think of as people allocated an office in the department or who perform their work at home.
Online training and assessment
The University has rolled out training and self-assessment online (PACE platform). Each University member is automatically enrolled and will receive an invitation for the training before being asked to do the self-assessment. The system does send regular reminders and chasers (for outstanding actions on the DSE risk assessment). For more information, contact the Safety Officer.
Training and prevention of RSI
For basic tips on how to prevent RSI, see Working safely with display screen equipment
First-year Computer Science students (undergraduate or postgraduate) can attend an optional session on RSI, its causes, and its prevention.
The attached YouTube video of Professor Frank Stajano provides details on RSI.
There is a Safety Course for New Postgraduate Students which covers wider aspects of safety in the University.
For more information, please see the UIS page on upper limb disorders.
The department will try to accommodate people with disabilities. Therefore, we do ask that special needs be declared before someone comes to the Department.
Websites
In our department, the most likely risks are problems relating to DSE and VDU use. Although many kinds of work can bring on ULD symptoms, computer users are particularly at risk.
The following websites may be of interest:
- The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre normally has a range of devices which can be tried, as well as advice and specialist catalogues. They are also offering assistance on RSI, Speech Assisted Computing and device demonstrations covering various voice alternatives to keyboards and mice.
- The RSI-UK web site has some useful information.
General disability
For more information on disability in general, visit:
- The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre
- The Cambridge University Union Students with disabilities page.
- The Disability evacuation page.
Updated Dec 2025 - Diana Gauvrit (DSO)
