Communication Technology SAFETY PLAN Health and Safety is

Communication Technology SAFETY PLAN Health and Safety is Everyone’s Responsibility

Know Your Rights IT’S THE LAW! o Most workplaces in Ontario must follow the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) o It helps keep workers safe and healthy while they do their jobs!

Chemical Hazards: WHMIS q WHMIS training o Read product labels and MSDS o ASK questions if you are unsure about hazards o Know emergency procedures and where equipment is located o Know why you are wearing PPE – and then DO IT!

Physical Hazards 1. Slips, Trips and Falls 2. Electricity and Electrical Components 3. Noise 4. Vibration 5. Thermal Stress: - Heat, Cold 6. Radiation 7. Fire

1. Preventing Falls o o o Use proper equipment at heights Wear appropriate footwear Clean up spills immediately Clean up debris from floors Remove obstacles from walkways Secure mats, or cords any cords that you may need to the floor.

2. Electrical Safety: Checklist o KEEP power cords clear of tools during use o DO NOT DISCONNECT a power cord by pulling or jerking from the outlet. This will cause wear and may cause a shock. o NEVER BREAK OFF the ground pin on a 3 -prong plug. o NEVER use extension cords as permanent wiring.

7. Fire o Hot lights are, indeed, hot. Be careful! o Don’t let flammable fabrics or other items get close to the lights. o Usually the heat alone is enough to encourage you to practice safe handling, but it’s a serious concern, so please take heed. o Have a fire extinguisher nearby. In fact, it’s mandatory in a commercial studio so do as the pros do.

What is Ergonomics? o Ergonomics is a science that matches the job to the worker, or in everyday life, the product to the user. o Poor ergonomic conditions at work, home, school, or play can negatively affect our health. Good ergonomics makes for a healthy and safe day

Ergonomics Consider the chair you’re sitting on. If it was a foot lower in height, would you be sitting as comfortably as you are? Your knees would be up in the air and some of you couldn’t see over your desks. The designer considered who would use these chairs and how they would be used. Matching the product to the user – that’s ergonomics right in the classroom.

First Consideration: Human Capabilities q q q Strength Vision Hearing Body Size Flexibility Mental Capacity These capabilities are subject to change as we get older and if we are tired, weak, or sick. They are also different from one individual to the next.

Second Consideration: Job Demand o o o Posture Force Repetition Vibration Environment Time The task must be studied to determine how the job must be done and what stresses it may put on the body.

Ergonomics: Stress Factors o o o o Pressures of exams Pressure from parents Lack of security Peer pressure Violence Lack of exercise Lack of sleep Changing world

Ergonomics: Tool Handling o o o Bend tools, NOT your wrist Power grip better than pinch grip Neutral wrist posture No excessive torque Trigger finger controls

Ergonomics Workstation Design Factors to Consider: o Body size o Height o Gender o Right- or left-handedness

Computer Workstation

Layout Workstation

Activity Workstation o Is the height of the chair OK? The chair height is OK because her feet are flat on the ground and her thighs are horizontal. o Are there pressure points? There do not seem to be any pressure points between her body and the chair. Her back is straight, and there is a gap between her legs and the seat of the chair. o Is her posture OK? The posture is OK. Her backrest seems adjusted to the right height. o Is she keeping her hands in proper position? Her hands are hanging. She should use an elbow rest.

Material Handling: Proper Lifting o o o § § Is she lifting properly? If not, why not? What could she do to lift properly? Lift by bending your legs, not your back. Keep the object close to you (close to your centre of gravity to make carrying easier). Use handles if possible (to get a better grip on the object). Get assistance if the object is large or awkward (even if it is light).