1. © Author Gay Robertson, 2017

2. Being ergonomically correct means more than simply avoiding physical injury. Ergonomic principles touch on all aspects of the physical and mental work environment. A good work environment = less stress = healthier worker, less injuries

3. Avoid gradual process injury Gradual process injury is when a worker performs the same task over and over, causing stress on nerves, muscles, tendons, or other body parts. Gradual Process Injury is an ‘umbrella term’ covering Occupational Overuse Syndrome (OOS) or RSI (repetitive strain injury).

4. “Fit” the workplace environment, the hardware used and the tasks to be done, “to the worker” according to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 and ACC guidelines. And if it doesn’t “Fit” then “Fix it”!

5. The full ACC Guideline for Computer Use is available in this folder:

6. What is a Computer Workstation …
The combination of
Computer hardware
A display screen
A keyboard and/or mouse or other input device
The computer workstation also includes
Workstation furniture eg desk, chair
Workstation equipment eg telephone, printer
Workstation environment eg lighting, noise

7. What are the guidelines …
The guidelines have been developed in response to changing technology
They allow for new ways of managing the hazards of computer use
They are a guide to “best practice”
They reflect the current state of knowledge
In relation to early identification of gradual process injury
In relation to management of
Discomfort
Pain
Injury

8. Why are the guidelines needed …
To meet Health & Safety in Employment Act obligations to employees
The use of computer workstations has changed the nature of employment
Structure of jobs
Work surroundings eg office or home
Organisations themselves
Increased skills and deficiencies and health problems
It is strongly encouraged that the recommendations in the Guidelines be adopted in private homes as they are in businesses

9. Remember ..…
If you work in an organisation, your supervisor would ensure that potential hazards have been identified and assessed and action has been taken to adequately control them to provide the correct level of health and safety required by the Guidelines and the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
 If you work at home, you should use the ACC Guidelines as a guide to help you stay comfortable and productive when using a computer.

10. Hazard Management Cycle
Identify and understand potential health issues
Assess potential hazards
Control hazards
Manage potential health issues
Monitor health and review program

11. Identify and understand potential health issues
Consider the following:
Are the hazards of computer use recognized in your home or workplace (especially gradual process injury)?
Is there a commitment to managing computer hazards?
Are the benefits of good computer use well recognized?

12. Assessing potential hazards
Consider the following:
Do you have systems and procedures in place to identify and assess potential hazards?
Have you prioritized your actions to control relevant hazards?

13. Controlling hazards … Consider the following:
Have you developed an action plan to address the hazards?
Have you implemented solutions?
Have you minimised the hazards?

14. Factors to consider to control hazards when using computers
Organising work – structure, variety, workloads for deadlines
The work environment – working space, lighting, location, noise, décor, atmosphere
Postures and practices – well supported posture, changing positions
Furniture and equipment – designed to support all tasks
Computer hardware – screen, keyboard, mouse
Educating computer users – difficult to eliminate hazards, monitor and evaluate, skills training, recognition of signs and symptoms
6 factors

15. What if a problem arises?

16. Managing potential health issues
Consider the following:
Do your systems encourage the early reporting of symptoms?
Have you taken steps to deal with specific health issues?
Do you have systems in place to manage a worker’s return to work if they have episodes of
Discomfort
Pain
Injury

17. Health monitoring and review
Consider the following:
Do you have systems in place to monitor workers’ health?
Do you regularly review how you manage computer workstation hazards?
Are you up to date with new technology/information?

18. If I follow the guidelines …
I minimise my risks of developing health problems such as:
Physical discomfort, pain or injury
Visual discomfort
Stress
Fatigue

19. 1. Physical discomfort, pain or injury
Potential health problems may affect:
Muscles and Connective tissues
Tendons and ligaments
Joints and bony structures
Blood supply, nerves and skin
And can lead to …..

20. Gradual Process injury
Gradual Process Injury is accepted umbrella term for all physical discomfort, pain or injury problems
Also known as Occupational Overuse Syndrome OOS or Repetitive Strain Injury RSI
This can mean long periods of absence from work
What are the symptoms?
Fatigue
Muscle pain, soreness, weakness
Burning sensations
Stiffness
Aches and pains, numbness and tingling

21. What could have caused the symptoms?
Poor planning and layout of your workstation
Poor organisation of your actual tasks with no breaks or exercises planned
Computer hardware or office furniture not ergonomically correct for you or not meeting the required ISO standard listed in the H&S Act
Workstation environment not ergonomically correct for you
Poor knowledge of what is required ergonomically – lack of training and education by employer (required by H&S Act)
These are significant hazards!

22. What can you do to help yourself?
Organise your tasks so that you are not repetitively doing the same thing over and over all day – do some filing!
Take regular breaks from your desk (at least every minutes)
walk around, stretch, change position and posture)
regular gentle exercise such as Yoga / Pilates keeps your joints and vertebrae supple
Take micropauses (a 5-10 second break) every 3 minutes or so (or as per your company procedures)
at the time of the micropause it is ESSENTIAL that you do some muscle relaxation to allow for blood to flow to the muscle which has become tense

23. and …. Do exercises
The exercises in your workbook are designed to ensure you are operating your computer workstation safely
You can also go to

24. 2. Visual discomfort
Eye problems are unlikely to reach the point of causing serious harm.
What are some of the symptoms?
Soreness of the eyes
Reddening of the eyes
Watering or dryness of the eyes
Blurring of vision
Eyes feeling ‘heavy’ or ‘gritty’
Headaches

25. These are not significant hazards!
What could have caused the symptoms? And what can you do to help yourself?
Poor planning and layout of your workstation eg VDU incorrect distance from the worker – easily fixed by moving the VDU
VDU positioning causes you to focus on the same point all the time – you must relax the eye muscles by looking away and into the distance
VDU positioning causes you to hold the same posture or position for long lengths of time (eyes, head, neck and shoulders) – you must take breaks as recommended under the H&S Act
Poor knowledge of what is required ergonomically – lack of training and education by employer (required by H&S Act)
These are not significant hazards!

26. 3. Stress Symptoms may vary but include:
Increasing distress and irritability
Physical aches and pains
Difficulty relaxing, concentrating or sleeping
Difficulty thinking logically and/or making decisions
Decreased enjoyment of work
Feeling less commitment
Feeling tired, depressed or anxious

27. What is stress?
Stress is how a person reacts to internal or external pressures – these reactions are known as ‘stressors’
What are some stressors?
Noise - Job insecurity
Personal relations - No prospects
Bad posture Too much to do
Rigid rules - Eye problems
Pain from gradual process injury

28. What could have caused your reaction?
The intensity of your VDU work – you could be working on something for a long time without interruption eg to meet a deadline, getting carried away with doing too much at once, unable to leave the task because of your own personality – ‘I want to finish this - PERFECTLY!’
Isolation – lack of contact with other workers in your office area, poor social skills
Failure to take breaks or exercise
Poor knowledge of what is required ergonomically – lack of training and education by employer (required by H&S Act)
These are not significant hazards!

29. 4. Fatigue Symptoms may vary but include:
Decrease in normal ability to respond to a situation
Inability to temporarily respond to a situation
Fatigue is because of over activity
Over activity may be
Physical
Mental
Emotional

30. What could have caused the symptoms?
Physical fatigue
In computer use can affect smaller postural and arm muscles which will result in discomfort and pain (micropauses help, breaks, exercise, task rotation)
Mental fatigue
Inability to manage task length and mental effort required to complete
Interruptions
Inability to pick up tasks again when breaks are unscheduled
Deadlines
Intense tasks requiring extensive concentration; break tasks into manageable chunks
Emotional fatigue
Because of physical fatigue emotions become involved
Poor knowledge of what is required ergonomically – lack of training and education by employer (required by H&S Act)
These are not significant hazards!

31. Other issues to be aware of …
Photogenic Epilepsy
While VDUs do not cause epilepsy, the flickering light of a monitor can trigger an attack in people who have photogenic epilepsy
Skin problems
Dermatitis and other skin problems are reported from time to time but no consistent pattern of association with VDU use has been scientifically proved
Electromagnetic fields
No consistent evidence of health issues that arise from VDU electromagnetic fields (amount of radiation is very small)

32. So, when I am working at my workstation …
If I check to make sure that all the guidelines and recommendations in the ACC Guidelines for Computer Workstations are followed by my employer at work and by myself at home, I should be able to
Work productively and efficiently
Have fewer injuries and less absenteeism
Make less errors
And increase my job satisfaction

33. What next … Go back to the workbook
Try out the exercises in your workbook
Go to the website listed and try these exercises out also