Health and Safety

For your exam you need to be aware of the issues of health and safety in general, and how they relate to the use of ICT in the workplace, e.g. Psychological factors – e.g. stress Physical problems – e.g. RSI Use of equipment – e.g. VDUs The law and the employee’s responsibility

Morale and Motivation Research shows that people like to work in a hi-tech environment, and therefore they are happier in their jobs Businesses that use ICT often have a better public image Companies using ICT have increased productivity Staff might fear that they can’t use the new technology and might look incompetent Staff might fear that their jobs might be lost to technology Use of ICT might lead to social isolation, with less person-person contact than before

Stress Using ICT can cause stress for a various reasons: Employers can monitor work rate, e.g. keystrokes per hour Slow or badly designed systems Difficult to get away from work – , pagers, mobiles, laptops, etc. Feeling that the work is too complicated Information overload!

Physical Problems These could include: Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) – usually in the form of numbness or tingling in the upper limbs, neck or shoulders. Usually caused by small, repetitive motions, such as those used when typing or using a mouse Eyestrain – usually caused by poor quality displays or bad lighting. There is no evidence that using computers causes permanent damage

Radiation Some people worry about: Extreme Low Frequency (ELF) radiation, as produced by monitors and its effect on unborn babies or in causing miscarriages. There is a correlation, but no proven link. Mobile phone handsets – there have been numerous reports about these warming up your brain and causing cancer, and children have been warned against using them where possible

Computers, Health & the Law The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 requires employers to: Analyse workstations for health and safety Train staff to use workstations correctly Ensure employees take regular breaks or changes of activity Provide regular eye tests and pay for glasses if needed

Computers, Health & the Law The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 requires employees to: Use workstations and equipment correctly Follow training guidelines provided Bring any problems to the attention of the employers immediately and co-operate to put the problems right

Ergonomics Ergonomics is about the design and functionality of the environment. Employees should consider: Lighting – the office should be well lit Furniture – correct height, adjustable, etc Work space – not cramped Noise – printers, servers, etc. given covers Hardware/equipment – tilt & swivel screens, keyboard must be separate and adjustable, etc. Software – must not cause stress!

Safety There are a number of safety issues in offices: Don’t overload electrical sockets Keep liquids away from equipment (difficult in a bar!) Computers get hot and attract dust – therefore you should have the correct fire extinguishers ready People can trip over trailing power, network and data cables - care should be taken when routing such cables