Display screen work and working from home: requirements, risk assessment and checklist
Office work is considered harmless – yet it is the most common cause of back, neck and eye complaints. Which requirements apply to display screen workstations, what is mandatory when working from home and how to carry out the risk assessment.
Last updated on 9 min readAMS Go editorial team
Key points at a glance
- Display screen workstations must meet the requirements of Annex 6 of the Workplaces Ordinance (ArbStättV): screen, keyboard, desk, chair, lighting and software must meet minimum ergonomic standards.
- Office workstations also need a risk assessment – covering ergonomics, visual strain, work organisation and mental workload.
- Permanently set up telework stations fall under the Workplaces Ordinance; the employer equips them. For mobile working, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Working Hours Act apply, but not the workplace requirements.
- Employees at display screen workstations must be offered a health check including an examination of the eyes and eyesight; the employer pays for special screen glasses if they are needed.
Legal basis: what applies to display screen work
The former Display Screen Equipment Ordinance (Bildschirmarbeitsverordnung) was merged into the Workplaces Ordinance in 2016. Annex 6 of the Workplaces Ordinance now contains the requirements for display screen workstations – from the screen to desk and chair to the software. In addition, the Technical Rules for Workplaces apply, such as ASR A3.4 on lighting and ASR A1.2 on room dimensions, as well as DGUV Information 215-410 “Display screen and office workstations” as a guide.
A display screen workstation is a workplace with display screen equipment and other work equipment where employees do a not insignificant part of their work. This applies to almost every office workstation – and to control rooms, checkouts or production workstations with a terminal.
Requirements for the display screen workstation
The most important requirements from Annex 6 of the Workplaces Ordinance and the related rules:
Screen
Requirementsharp, flicker-free image, low reflection, freely rotatable and tiltable, large enough for the task
Practical tiptop edge roughly at eye level, viewing distance 50 to 70 centimetres, line of sight parallel to the window rather than facing it
Keyboard and mouse
Requirementkeyboard separate from the screen, tiltable, with enough space to rest the hands
Practical tipmouse close to the keyboard, palm rest if needed
Desk
Requirementsufficiently large, low-reflection surface, free legroom
Practical tipguideline 160 by 80 centimetres, desk height 72 centimetres or height-adjustable; sit-stand desks allow changes of posture
Work chair
Requirementstable, height-adjustable, with adjustable backrest
Practical tipfive castors, seat height so that thighs and lower legs are roughly at a right angle, backrest supports the lumbar spine
Lighting
Requirementsufficiently bright, glare-free, without disturbing reflections
Practical tipat least 500 lux at the workstation (ASR A3.4), windows with sun protection, lights not in the field of view
Indoor climate and noise
Requirementcomfortable climate, noise must not impair concentration
Practical tipguideline 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, noise level ideally below 55 dB(A) for concentrated work
Portable devices
Requirementlaptops without separate screen and keyboard only for short-term tasks or with additional equipment
Practical tipfor longer work, provide an external keyboard, mouse and screen or a laptop stand
Software
Requirementsuitable for the task, user-friendly, with feedback on work status, without hidden performance monitoring
Practical tipinvolve and train employees when introducing new software
Risk assessment for display screen workstations
The duty to carry out a risk assessment applies to office workstations as to any other activity (Section 5 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, Section 3 ArbStättV). Similar workstations can be grouped together; special features – such as multiple screens, shift work or customer contact – are considered separately. Typical hazard factors:
- musculoskeletal strain from prolonged sitting, one-sided posture, poorly adjusted furniture
- visual strain from glare, reflections, text that is too small, too short a viewing distance or dry air
- mental workload from work intensity, interruptions, constant availability, missing breaks or social isolation when working from home
- work organisation: no variety of tasks, no movement, unclear responsibilities
- electrical safety and tripping hazards from cables, power strips and chargers
- indoor climate, lighting and noise in open-plan offices
The Workplaces Ordinance also requires display screen work to be regularly interrupted by other activities or breaks. Mixed work – such as phone calls while standing, filing, meetings – is the most effective measure against posture-related damage and belongs in the risk assessment.
Risk assessments in AMS GoAssess office, telework and mobile workstations with templates, collect self-assessments from home offices and track measures with deadlines.Working from home and mobile working: duties of the employer
Since the pandemic, many employees work from home at least part of the time. Which duties apply depends on whether a telework station has been agreed or whether employees work on the move:
Equipment
Telework stationthe employer provides furniture, screen, keyboard and communication technology and sets up the workstation
Mobile workingno duty to equip the employee's home; suitable work equipment such as a laptop and, if needed, an external keyboard or screen
Risk assessment
Telework stationmandatory under Section 3 ArbStättV when first set up – taking local conditions into account
Mobile workingmandatory under Section 5 ArbSchG, usually activity-based and with a self-assessment by the employee
Access to the home
Telework stationonly with the employee's consent; in practice, a checklist or photos as self-assessment
Mobile workingnot provided for
Safety instruction
Telework stationon ergonomics, working hours, breaks, electrical safety and data protection – documented
Mobile workingthe same, with a focus on setting up changing work locations ergonomically
Working hours
Telework stationthe Working Hours Act applies: maximum working hours, breaks, rest period of eleven hours, recording of working time
Mobile workingthe same
Accident insurance
Telework stationcovered by statutory insurance; since 2021 this includes routes within the home to work and to childcare (Section 8 SGB VII)
Mobile workingthe same – work activities are insured, private activities are not
How to proceed
- 1
Record workstations
Which office, telework and mobile workstations are there, who works how many hours at a screen, and what special features are there?
- 2
Carry out the risk assessment
Per workstation type with a checklist – on company premises through a walk-through, for home offices through self-assessment with photos. Include mental workload.
- 3
Adjust the equipment
Purchase missing screens, chairs or keyboards, check lighting and sun protection, add accessories to laptops.
- 4
Offer health checks
Organise the offered health check for display screen work through the company doctor and document the offer.
- 5
Instruct
Correct adjustment of chair, desk and screen, breaks and movement, working hours in the home office, cables and sockets, data protection.
- 6
Regulate work organisation
Allow mixed work, agree on availability and breaks, ensure working time is recorded.
- 7
Check effectiveness
Ask after a few months: complaints, satisfaction, use of the equipment. Update the risk assessment when things change.
Checklist: display screen workstation and home office
- Risk assessment for office, telework and mobile workstations available
- Screen low-reflection, rotatable, top edge at eye level, viewing distance 50 to 70 centimetres
- Keyboard and mouse separate from the screen, additional equipment available for laptops
- Desk large enough, legroom free, height suitable or adjustable
- Chair height-adjustable with adjustable backrest and five castors
- Lighting at least 500 lux, glare-free, sun protection available
- Cables tidily routed, power strips not overloaded, devices tested
- Health check for display screen work offered and documented
- Screen glasses at the employer's expense if needed
- Instruction on ergonomics, breaks and working hours carried out
- Mixed work and movement breaks considered in work organisation
- Mental workload assessed – including availability and isolation in the home office
- Home office agreement covering working hours, availability, equipment and data protection in place
Frequently asked questions
Does the Workplaces Ordinance apply when working from home?
For agreed telework stations, yes – with restrictions: the duty to carry out a risk assessment and to instruct employees applies, as do the requirements for display screen workstations in Annex 6. For mobile working without a permanently set up workstation, the Workplaces Ordinance does not apply, but the Occupational Safety and Health Act does.
Does the employer have to equip the home office?
For a telework station, yes: the employer provides furniture, work equipment and communication technology and sets up the workstation. For mobile working, the employer must provide suitable work equipment such as a laptop but does not have to furnish the home. Many companies voluntarily offer a screen, keyboard or an allowance for a chair.
Who pays for screen glasses?
The employer – if the offered occupational health check shows that a special visual aid is needed for display screen work and normal glasses are not sufficient. Cost coverage is limited to the necessary version, not designer frames.
Is a risk assessment really necessary for office workstations?
Yes. The Occupational Safety and Health Act makes no exception for offices. Similar workstations can be grouped together, so the effort remains manageable. Ergonomics, visual strain, work organisation and mental workload must be taken into account.
Am I covered by accident insurance when working from home?
Yes. Since 2021, employees working from home in Germany are insured to the same extent as on company premises – including routes within the home to work and routes to childcare (Section 8 SGB VII). Private activities such as cooking or going to the letterbox are not insured.
Terms from the glossary
This guide gives a general overview of German occupational safety law and does not replace legal advice. The regulations in force and the rules of the statutory accident insurance institutions are authoritative.
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