Government and public statistics
Working safely with display screen equipment: Work routine and breaks
Health and Safety Executive (HSE), 2025
Read the originalRead on October 16, 2026
- What it is
- The UK Health and Safety Executive's guidance for employers and workers who use computers and other display screen equipment, on how to plan breaks and changes of activity.
- How much weight it carries
- Official guidance from the UK workplace health and safety regulator. It is practical guidance rather than a research finding, and the break lengths are given as an example, not a legal rule.
Facts taken from this source
- The UK Health and Safety Executive advises computer users to take short breaks often rather than longer ones less often, for example 5 to 10 minutes every hour rather than 20 minutes every 2 hours.
“Take short breaks often, rather than longer ones less often. For example 5 to 10 minutes every hour is better than 20 minutes every 2 hours.” (4. Work routine and breaks)
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