Lesson 5.3 · 5 min

Screen work: breaks and eye tests

Open in the coursewith narrated slides, a checklist to tick off and a quiz

At a glance

Who counts as a screen worker. Anyone who on average works at a screen for more than two hours without a break, or more than three hours in total, of their working day.
After 50 minutes, 10 minutes. After every 50 minutes of uninterrupted screen work there must be a break or a change of activity of at least 10 minutes.
The breaks count as working time. These breaks count as working time. A change of activity must really reduce the strain of screen work.
Offer an eye test. An examination of the eyes and eyesight must be offered before starting, then every three years, and when eyesight problems occur.
The employer pays. The employer bears the cost of the examinations. If an eye specialist's examination turns out to be necessary, the employer must make it possible.

In detail

Who it covers

The Screen Work Regulation applies to screen work that makes up a "not insignificant part of normal work". That is the case when workers spend on average more than two hours without a break, or on average more than three hours, of their working day on screen work § 1(4) BS-V. Whether that applies must be checked for each workstation. Screen work belongs in the assessment either way, as work equipment and as a workstation § 4(1) nos. 2 and 4 ASchG.

Breaks

After every 50 minutes of uninterrupted screen work there must be a break or a change of activity of at least 10 minutes § 10(1) BS-V.
This doesn't apply if no more than two hours a day are spent on uninterrupted screen work § 10(2) BS-V.
The break may be moved into the following second hour if the workflow requires it § 10(3) BS-V.
A change of activity must consist of tasks that reduce the strain of screen work § 10(4) BS-V.
The breaks count as working time § 10(5) BS-V.

Eye test

The employer must offer workers who do screen work a suitable examination of the eyes and eyesight: before starting, then at intervals of three years, and when eyesight problems occur that may be due to screen work § 11(1) BS-V. The examination may be done by specialists in ophthalmology and optometry or in occupational medicine, by doctors with recognised occupational-medicine training and, for checking visual acuity, by master opticians § 11(2) BS-V. The employer bears the cost § 11(3) BS-V and, if an eye specialist's examination turns out to be necessary, must make it possible § 11(4) BS-V.

Checklist

We know which workstations count as screen work under the BS-V.
Breaks or changes of activity after 50 minutes are organised.
The eye test is offered before screen work starts.
We know when each person's next three-yearly test is due.
We pay for the examinations.

Quiz

When must workers doing screen work be offered an eye test?

Never; that's up to the workers
Before starting, then every three years, and with eyesight problems
Every year
Only once, on joining

Show the answer

The answer is B: Before starting, then every three years, and with eyesight problems. § 11(1) BS-V: before starting, then at intervals of three years, and with eyesight problems that may be due to screen work; the employer pays (subsection 3).

Sources

This lesson's statements rest on:

Not legal advice. What counts is the Workers Protection Act (ASchG) and its regulations in the Federal Legal Information System (read on 4 October 2026). Rules for areas outside the ASchG, such as agriculture and forestry or the public service, and special rules for particular substances or sectors are not covered. Not an offer of the Labour Inspectorate, the AUVA or the Chamber of Commerce.