ROYAL DECREE 488/1997, of the 14th of April, B.O.E. nº 97, 23rd of April

Law 31/1995 of the 8th of November, for Risk Prevention in the Workplace determines the basic body of guarantees and responsibilities required to establish an adequate level of health protection for workers against risks derived from the working conditions under a coherent, coordinated and efficient policy framework. According to Article 6 of the aforementioned, it will be the regulatory standards that set and establish the more technical aspects of the preventative measures.

It is therefore the standards of regulatory development that must set the minimum measures to be adopted for the adequate protection of personnel. Among these are those aimed at assuring that the use of equipment employing visual display screens for personnel do not provide a risk to their health or safety. .

Likewise, it should be taken into account that within the ambit of the European Union, criteria of a general nature have been fixed through the corresponding Directives on matters regarding occupational health and safety practices, as well as specific material regarding protection measures against accidents and risk situations. Specifically, the Directive 90/27/CEE of 29 May establishes the minimum health and safety provisions in relation to work with equipment that includes visual display screens. Through this Royal Decree, the aforementioned Directive 90/270/CEE was transposed to the Spanish Directive. .

In virtue of this, and in accordance with Article 6 of Law 31/1995 of 8 November for Risk Prevention in the Workplace, at the proposal of the Spanish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, in consultation with the most representative business and union organisations, heard by the National Commission for Health and Safety in the Workplace, in accordance with Council of State under previous deliberation by the Council of Ministers during their meeting of the 4th of April 1997.