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/non-adjustable 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.