Health and Safety using ICT

Health and Safety using ICT

• 1.
  Health and SafetyUsing ICT
• 2.
  Ergonomics Intended tomaximize productivity (work completed) by minimizing user tiredness and discomfort in the workplace. Ensures positional safety.
• 3.
  Desk The deskmust be: Large enough to allow the monitors, keyboard etc to be correctly positioned. Matte surface, to avoid reflective glare. Low enough to allow you to keep your forearms horizontal and high enough to allow your thighs underneath it. Elbows should be at an angle of at least 90 degrees when sitting at it.
• 4.
  Chair The chairmust be: High enough to allow you to sit comfortably over the keyboard. It should swivel: five castors will ensure that it is stable. Must be adjustable for comfort. The backrest must be firm against your back. Your feet should be flat on the floor.
• 5.
  Monitor The screenshould: Have easily adjustable brightness and contrast controls. Be easy to tilt or swivel. Have no reflective glare Make sure that you sit far enough away from the monitor you are using; most people's natural distance for comfortable vision is 20-24 inches.
• 6.
  Lighting Lighting should:Be appropriate for all editing tasks, e.g. reading the screen, keyboard work, paperwork, and must not cause glare or reflections on the monitor. Be positioned to reduce glare and reflections. Lighting is covered by the Lighting at Work Regulations (1987), which state fluorescent lights which flicker should be replaced to prevent headaches and disturbed vision.
• 7.
  Keyboard The keyboardshould: have a matte surface to avoid reflective glare. Be separate from the monitor and easily tiltable, with clearly marked keys. Be easy to use - for example, keys should not stick - and the desk should be large enough to allow adequate space in front of it to position the hands properly.
• 8.
  Environment Computers generateheat, but this must be controlled to a "comfortable" level, if necessary by the use of fans and/or air conditioning. The air must not be too dry or too damp. Background noise must not be so high that you find it difficult to concentrate. In general you should have enough space to be able to change position and vary your movements. Take regular breaks from the computer, ideally five minutes every half an hour. This relieves eye strain as well as helping to prevent RSI.
• 9.
  Electrical Appliances Therules for all electrical appliances apply in a computer room. There should be no trailing wires. Food and drink should not be placed near a machine. Electrical sockets must not be overloaded. All electrical equipment must be tested for safety at regular intervals.
• 10.
  Useful links http://www.healthycomputing.com / http:// www.ergonomics.org.uk / http://www.safecomputingtips.com