Legal issues Health issues Legal issues ICT health

Legal issues Health issues

Legal issues ICT health problems • • Back ache Stress Eye strain Repetitive strain injury (RSI)

Legal issues Back ache: the problems • Caused by incorrect posture • Computer users tend to slouch • Laptop users frequently work with computer on their knees • Can be made worse by a poorly designed/nonadjustable chair

Legal issues 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

Legal issues Stress Working with computers is stressful. Caused by: • the pace of work • having to learn new technology • frustrating software • losing work – problems with viruses.

Legal issues 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

Legal issues 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

Legal issues Repetitive strain injury • Caused by repetitive actions such as typing or mouse clicking • Causes aches in hands, wrists, arms and neck • Can eventually be painful and disabling • Can be avoided

Legal issues 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

Legal issues Chairs should: • have an adjustable back rest to support the back • allow the seat height to be adjusted • have a 5 -caster base • have adjustable arm rests

Legal issues Footrest • A footrest should be made available • To allow a user to have the back crease of their knee slightly higher than the pan of the chair

Legal issues Keyboards • Keyboards should be separate from the screen (NB often not the case with laptops) • Keyboards should be tiltable • Keyboards should have a matt surface to reduce glare • Keyboards should leave enough space to rest your wrists

Legal issues Ergonomic keyboards • This is an ergonomic keyboard • Designed to help reduce RSI

Legal issues 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

Legal issues Other office equipment Desks – correct height, non-reflective surface, plenty of room to work

Legal issues Other Safety issues • Excessive heat/temperatures from computers • Management of electrical systems / power sockets / UPS • Management of cabling. • Room lighting • Sunlight • Fire prevention / fire extinguishers / smoke detectors • Food and drink usage • Power surges.