Extra screen, keyboard and mouse for everyone – after 24 years, it’s time to amend the Regulation on Health and Safety at Work at Display Screen Workplaces!

AMENDMENT OF THE REGULATION – WHEN DOES IT APPLY?

The Regulation of the Minister of Family and Social Policy of 18 October 2023, amending the Regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy of 1 December 1998 on the safety and hygiene of work in workplaces equipped with screen monitors (hereinafter: the “Regulation“), was published in the Journal of Laws on 2 November.

The regulation in its new wording comes into force on 17 November. Fortunately, this does not mean that Employers have only 15 days to implement the necessary changes! Workstations created before the effective date of the Ordinance (before 17 November 2023) must be brought into compliance with the new requirements by 16 May 2024.

If, on the other hand, an Employer hires someone already in the new legal status – that is on or after 17 November, he or she must immediately provide such an employee with a workplace that complies with the current requirements.

WHAT NEW REQUIREMENTS DOES THE REVISED REGULATION INTRODUCE?

Under the new – amended – Ordinance, the Employer must provide each employee who performs his or her work using a laptop computer (for at least half of his or her working hours) with: a stationary screen monitor or stand ensuring that the screen is positioned so that its top edge is at the employee’s eye level, and an additional keyboard and mouse. At the employee’s request, the Employer is also to provide the employee with a footrest.

NOT ONLY GLASSES BUT ALSO LENSES?

The regulation follows developments not only in technology, but also in medicine, by introducing the obligation to provide not only corrective glasses – but also lenses, which can be quite an improvement for many employees using this form of vision correction. Of course – as before, such an obligation only updates if it is based on a doctor’s recommendation.

WHAT ABOUT REMOTE WORKERS?

The regulation also applies to employees doing remote work. In their case, they will have to adapt their workplaces to the new requirements or return to the office. It is a good idea to regulate the issue of covering the costs of furnishing a remote work station before the new provisions come into force, for instance in the Remote Work Rules or in an individual agreement (remote working arrangement) with the employee. It is also important to update the information on health and safety rules for remote working, which employees are required to examine before starting to work remotely.