Ireland · Frequency
How Often Must VDU Assessments Be Done?
The Regulations trigger assessments on events, not a calendar. Here’s when the law requires a new assessment, and what a sensible review cycle looks like in practice.
There is no fixed statutory interval. A VDU assessment is required when a workstation is first set up or a new user starts, when the workstation is significantly changed, and when an employee reports a problem. Best practice in Ireland is to add a periodic review — commonly every two years, or annually for higher-risk users — so no workstation drifts out of compliance unnoticed.
When the law requires an assessment
- New workstation or new user: before or promptly after an employee starts habitual VDU work at a workstation.
- Significant change: new equipment, a new desk layout, an office move, a switch to hot-desking, or a move to home or hybrid working all count as changes that invalidate the previous assessment.
- Reported problems: where an employee reports discomfort, eyesight issues or other symptoms, the workstation should be reassessed and findings acted on.
Why a periodic review cycle is still worth having
Event-triggered duties fail quietly: equipment gets swapped, people change desks, and nobody tells the safety officer. A standing review cycle catches the drift. A defensible policy for most Irish employers looks like:
- Assessment at onboarding for every habitual VDU user;
- Reassessment on any significant workstation change, including a move to home working;
- Reassessment on request or on report of symptoms — without delay;
- A periodic review, typically every two years, or annually for employees with known musculoskeletal issues or intensive screen work.
