By Basant El-Faramawy
British military personnel have been instructed to take regular screen breaks and use emojis in internal communications under new health and safety guidance issued by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The policy applies to UK-based service members and civilian defence staff, including those involved in drone operations, cybersecurity, and intelligence analysis.
Guidance Details
The internal rulebook directs display screen equipment users to take ten-minute breaks every hour rather than accumulating rest periods. Managers are required to intervene if staff do not step away from workstations. Personnel are also advised to replace lengthy messages with concise updates accompanied by emojis to reduce strain.
Additional recommendations include keeping feet flat on the floor, avoiding crossed legs, and following the “20-20-20” eye-care rule: looking at an object seven metres away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. The guidance also warns against using mobile phones while walking and charging devices via extension leads due to fire hazards. Formal risk assessments are now required before introducing appliances such as kettles or desk fans across the MoD estate.
Criticism from Veterans
The directives have drawn sharp criticism from military veterans. Former lieutenant colonel Stuart Crawford, who served 20 years in the Royal Tank Regiment, described the guidance as a “nanny state” intervention. He questioned the comparison of screen-based stress to combat stress, arguing that personnel in digital roles do not face the same level of trauma as those in ground combat.
MoD Response
An MoD spokesperson stated that screen guidance has been in place since 2016 and is part of a range of measures to keep staff fit, ready, and able to perform at their best.
