Assessment of the practical implementation of Directive 90/270/EEC on the minimum safety and health requirements for work with display screen equipment in Poland

The transposition of Directive 90/270/EEC into Polish law was analysed as were the provisions of the directive/regulation in light of the new kinds of computer work and science/technology progress. A method of analysing the cost and benefit of practical implementation of the regulation was developed. A method of studying practical implementation of the provisions of the regulation in Poland was also developed. It consists of two questionnaires for assessing workstations with display screen equipment: one for employers, the other one for employees, and an expert report. The reliability of the questions of the questionnaire was checked with the test-retest method. The questionnaire for assessing workstations equipped with display screen equipment for employees was verified. Then, in line with the developed methodology, a questionnaire survey was administered in 49 enterprises among 1360 workers employed at workstations with display screen equipment. Expert assessment was also conducted at 103 workstations in 8 enterprises. Questionnaire surveys in 24 enterprises at 306 workstations were continued. On the basis of the studies that were conducted, it can be said that the provisions in force since 1998, which implement Directive 90/270/EEC are implemented in practice; some of them more strictly than others.