Introduction for new employees

A safe and healty place to work

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Welcome to your new job!

Topics of the introduction:

• How do I adjust the position of my work surface and office chair?

• How can I prevent work related health complaints?• What do I need to know to work safely?• How to act in case of an incident, accident or

emergency?

• Where can I get advice on occupational health and safety matters?

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Bijlhouwerstraat 6 Janskerkhof 12

Achter Sint Pieter 200

Boothstraat 6

In which building are you working?

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Drift 15

Drift 9

Janskerhof 2-3a

Drift 17

Janskerkhof 15a

In which building are you working?

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Office

How to adjust your:• Office chair

• Work desk

Desktop work• Keyboard and mouse

• Screen

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Adjusting the office

Chair• Adjust seat for your height (knees 90° angle)• Check that the clearance between seat and knee cavity

fits a clenched fist• Back rest (fits the hollow in your lower back)• Adjust armrests (elbows in a 90° angle, armrest barely

touches the undersides of elbows)

Desk• Adjust position

• For writing and reading: elbow position after adjusting chair

• For keyboard: elbow position minus keyboard height

When your chair or desk cannot be adjusted sufficiently, consider a foot rest.

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Keyboard and mouse• Keyboard position: near edge of desk• Keyboard: as flat as possible (no supports)• Mouse: as close as possible to edge of desk• Hold the mouse loosely in your hand with a relaxed grip • Keep your wrist straight. Your forearm, wrist and fingers

should all be in a straight line

Monitor• Distance: 60–80 cm (arm length)• Upper edge of monitor equals eye position• Prevent unpleasant light reflections

• Angle the monitor away from lights and windows

• Parallel (not directly below) with overhead lights

Adjusting the office

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Positioning the monitor

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

CANS (RSI)

Complaints of Arms, Neck and Shoulders

• In 2007 the term RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) was replaced with the term CANS

• CANS is defined as "musculoskeletal complaints of arm, neck and/or shoulder not caused by acute trauma or by any systemic disease".

CANS also covers arm, neck and shoulder complaints, that arenot caused by repetitive movements (unlike RSI).

Causes that might play a role: e.g. an ergonomically unsoundworkstation, poor or static posture, working attitude, pace ofwork, time patterns, stress, workload, psychosocial workfactors.

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Preventing CANS: Work organisation

• Ensure task variation in your work (routine vs. more challenging tasks)

• Ensure variation in work posture(avoid poor and static posture)

• Take long, short or micro breaks regularly• Spend not more than 6 hours a day at the computer• Create an ergonomic work environment• Lower work pressure and stress

(setting priorities, activity planning)

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Need assistance to adjust your workplace?

Please call or mail your teamleider gebouwzorg.

Still got complaints?

Contact the Faculty’s health and safety executive.

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

What to do in case of an emergency?

• Dial the Utrecht University alarm number: 4444(or first press a fire alarm and then call 4444)

• Notify who, what, where and number of victims involved• Close windows and doors• Follow the instructions of BHV or public address system• Leave the building according to the instructions, use

indicated escape routes

Inform yourself about possible escape routes!

• Gather at the meeting point

For more information, please visit the Faculty’s pages about Safety Instructions for employees, students and visitors.

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Alarm Systems

Activation:• Automatically

• Manually

Signals:• Evacuation

• Slow Whoop

• Public address system

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Emergency / lifesaving appliances

Extinguishing systems:

Fire hose Foam fire extinguisher Fire blanket

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Fire fighting signs

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

Escape route signs

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance

More questions about Health and Safety

For more information, please visit the Arbo and Milieu pages (in Dutch) of the Faculty of Law, Economics ansd Governance:

• Arbo en Milieu

• Arbo- en Milieu coördinator (Health and Safety executive)

Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance