Health and safety in relation to the use of ICT systems Health problems Workers who use ICT systems

for long periods of time are susceptible to health problems. The four main health problems are back ache, Repetitive strain injury (RSI), eye strain and stress1. All of these conditions are avoidable if computer equipments are used safely. Back ache is generally caused by sitting at a computer desk with an incorrect posture for long periods of time. Slouching in a chair and having your seat at the incorrect height can also cause back aches. Using adjustable chairs that allow you to sit at the correct height with both feet flat on the floor can help avoid back problems. Walking around after an hour of sitting down can also help relax your shoulders and release tension2. Repetitive strain injury is a potentially disabling condition caused by repetitive activities such as typing, clicking a mouse, or writing. RSI mostly affects parts of the upper body, such as the elbow, wrist, hands, shoulders and neck3. There are many ways in which people can prevent getting RSI. By simply using an ergonomically designed keyboard and mouse and keeping your wrists straight when keying in and controlling the mouse, RSI can be prevented. Properly adjusted desk equipments such as your chair can also help avoid getting RSI by helping with your posture and preventing you from sitting awkwardly at your desk. Taking regular breaks after long periods of time can help relax the muscles in the upper body. Eye strain is a very common problem caused by using the screen for long periods, glare and dirt on the screen and working in the wrong light conditions. It can cause a number of problems from short term headaches and blurred visions to long term conditions like myopia. It can be prevented by taking regular breaks to rest your eyes; preventing glare by placing the computer screen away from direct light; position the computer screen so that youre not to close or far away; having regular eye tests; and reading from paper copies where possible rather than using a computer screen. Using ICT systems can be very stressful for users at times. Software that is not designed properly and technical problems with computers can cause stress. By installing the correct hardware that is capable of meeting tasks and having adequate training and support, the stress caused by ICT systems can be reduced. Health and safety legislation The Health and Safety at Work Act 1947 was drawn up to protect all workers, whatever the nature of their work. The employers have a 'duty of care' to look after, as far as possible, their workers health, safety and welfare while at work. The more specific regulation covering the use of computer equipment is contained in the Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation 1992 which applies to all display screen equipment (DSE)4. The regulation made it law for employers to take certain measures to protect the health of their

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Essential ICT for AQA. AS level by Stephen Doyle. Pg 2-7 http://www.journalism.co.uk/news-freelance/how-to-avoid-back-pain-while-at-the-computer/s12/a53016/ 3 http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/workplacehealth/Pages/rsi.aspx 4 http://www.compactlaw.co.uk/free-legal-articles/display-screen-equipment-regs-1992.html

employees who use ICT equipment. The health and safety executive are the government department responsible for health and safety in the workplace. Employers must provide health and safety training to all employees so that they know how to adjust their chairs, desk and screen (i.e., alter brightness and contrast); understand the need for taking regular breaks; the correct posture to keep while sitting at their workstation; and understanding the importance of keeping the screen clean. They must also make sure that all employees are aware of their free entitlement to yearly eye tests. Adjustable chairs must be available to all employees so that it can be personally adjusted to the correct position. Your feet must be placed flat on the floor and if this is not possible than a footrest should be provided. The chairs must provide proper back support and have five feet with castors for stability and movement. Manufacturers are also required to ensure that their products comply with the directive. All screens should tilt and swivel; be at an appropriate height for the user; be able to adjust the brightness and contrast of the screen; and be of an appropriate size. Keyboards must also be separate and movable. Design and introduction of new software The design and introduction of new software is a frequent source of stress among employees. Employees are often given very little input into the design of software and can very frustrating for users to work with. Software that is designed ergonomically so that it is easier to use can cause less stress to users. Giving full training to all users in ICT systems can also make using them less stressful. Softwares can be made easier to use by ensuring that software is bug free and does not freeze or crash as it can result in the loss of work; font size is large enough to read easily; information is displayed in a logical order; having access to a help booklet/screen so that users can refer to it if they need help; shortcuts used to minimise mouse clicks; and methods which minimise the amount of data needed to be typed (e.g. coding). The design of the new software is also very important as they will be used by people on a day-to-day basis. All software needs to be tested before being used to ensure that it does not crash and any frustrating user-identified problems can be eliminated. There should be consistency from one screen to the next as this will make it easier to learn and items such as the menus and help button should be where users expect them. Help screens also need to be written very simply and be tested by novice users.