Date post: | 21-Dec-2015 |
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Health and Safety
The risks involved in working with ICT
© Folens 2008
ICT health problems • Back ache• Repetitive strain injury (RSI)• Eye strain• Stress
© Folens 2008
Back ache: the problems• Caused by incorrect posture• Computer users tend to
slouch• Laptop users frequently
work with computer on their knee
• Can be made worse by a poorly designed chair
© Folens 2008
Prevention of back ache• Use an adjustable chair• Make sure you make
adjustments to the chair to suit you
• Sit up straight – do not slouch• Ensure screen is at the
correct angle and directly in front of you
• Use a footrest
© Folens 2008
StressWorking with computers isstressful. This can be caused by:• the pace of work• having to learn new
technology• frustrating software• losing work – problems with
viruses
© Folens 2008
Eye strain• Causes blurred vision and
headaches• Can be caused by focusing
on the screen for long periods
• Also caused by glare/reflections on the screen or a dirty screen
© Folens 2008
Preventing eye strain• Keep the screen clear
(use screen wipes)• Avoid glare by using
adjustable blinds• Take regular breaks• Look away from the screen
to focus on a distant object at regular intervals
• Have regular eye-tests
© Folens 2008
Repetitive strain injury• Caused by repetitive
actions such as typing or mouse clicking
• Causes aches in hands, wrists, arms and neck
• Pain can eventually be painful and disabling
• Can be avoided
© Folens 2008
Avoiding RSI• Adjust the chair to suit you• Ensure you have enough
workspace• Use a document holder• Use a wrist rest• Keep wrists straight when
keying in• Position the mouse so your
wrist can be kept straight• Learn how to type properly
© Folens 2008
The LawThe law concerning the
health risks involved in using ICT equipment is dealt with in
the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
Regulations 1992
© Folens 2008
The law requires employers:
• to inspect workstations, assess and reduce risks
• to ensure that workstations meet certain standards (e.g., adjustable chairs, tiltable screens, no glare on screens, suitable lighting, etc.)
• to plan work so there are breaks or changes in activity
• to arrange free eye-tests for employees and provide free glasses if they are needed
• to provide health and safety training
© Folens 2008
Chairs should:• have an adjustable back
rest to support the back• allow the seat height to be
adjusted• have a 5-castor base• have adjustable arm rests
© Folens 2008
Footrest• A footrest should be made
available• A footrest should allow the
user to have their back crease of their knee slightly higher than the pan of the chair
© Folens 2008
Keyboards• Keyboards should be separate from
the screen (NB this is often not the case with laptops)
• Keyboards should be tiltable• Keyboards should have a matt
surface to reduce glare• Keyboards should include enough
space to rest your wrists
© Folens 2008
Ergonomic keyboards• It is an ergonomic keyboard• Designed to help reduce RSI
© Folens 2008
Lights• No point sources of light (to
reduce reflections on the screen)
• Adjustable blinds reduce the amount of sunshine entering through windows
• Matt grey keyboard, mouse, screen, etc., to reduce glare
© Folens 2008
Other office equipment• Desks – correct height • Non-reflective surface• Plenty of room to work
© Folens 2008