Safety Tutorial for Customer Service Representative Mrs. Turck South Lewis Central School

Customer Service Representative A customer service representative can be someone who works in call or customer contact centers. Other customer service representatives can work in an office or at a service or help desk. THESE JOBS DO HAVE SAFETY ISSUES CONNECTED TO THEM!!

Pre-Test Questions 1.Working with a computer cannot cause eye strain. 2.Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition you can get from working with customers. 3.Working with customers is always enjoyable.

Computers Looking at a monitor for too long can cause eye strain. To help avoid eye strain you can: To help avoid eye strain you can: –Position the monitor so that the top of the screen is at or below eye level –Position yourself to be able to look at your reference material without having to squint. –Arrange lighting so that it does not cause a glare on your screen

Eye Strain Continued –Take periodic breaks to rest your eyes. –Keep the screen in proper focus. –Blink often to keep your eyes from drying out

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Is caused by repetitive motion and affects your tendons and nerves. Ways to avoid getting Carpal Tunnel is to: Ways to avoid getting Carpal Tunnel is to: –Perform stretching exercises Stretch your fingers and thumbs Stretch your fingers and thumbs Do wrist curls and circles Do wrist curls and circles –Take frequent rest breaks –Wear splints to keep your wrists straight –Use correct posture and correct wrist position when typing Wrist Curls

Stress Working With Customers How to deal with stress from working with customers. How to deal with stress from working with customers. –Smile even if you are on the phone. People can hear it in your voice. Smiling will make you feel better too Smiling will make you feel better too –Close your eyes a moment and then take a deep breath –Remain calm

Safety Safety issues is taking care of your health. Safety issues is taking care of your health. Remember there are things that you can do in the workplace to ensure your health. Remember there are things that you can do in the workplace to ensure your health.

Post test questions Now take out a piece of paper and answer the following questions. What are two ways to keep from getting eye strain? What are two ways to keep from getting eye strain? What are two exercises you can do to help avoid carpal tunnel syndrome? What are two exercises you can do to help avoid carpal tunnel syndrome? What is at least one way to deal with the stress from customers? What is at least one way to deal with the stress from customers?

Answers to post questions Now that you have your answers lets discuss them. Now that you have your answers lets discuss them. –Position the monitor so that the top of the screen is at or below eye level –Position reference material in a good spot –Arrange lighting to avoid a glare –Take periodic breaks to rest your eyes –Keep the screen in focus –Blink often

Post test answers (cont) Exercises to help avoid carpal tunnel syndrome Exercises to help avoid carpal tunnel syndrome –Stretch your fingers and thumbs –Do wrist curls and circles Dealing with stress from customers Dealing with stress from customers –Smile even if you are on the phone. People can hear it in your voice. Smiling will make you feel better too Smiling will make you feel better too –Close your eyes a moment and then take a deep breath –Remain calm

Links to help with safety CCOHS Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety CCOHS Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety –Office Ergonomics – CDC Safety-Healthier-People CDC Safety-Healthier-People – Go to Safety Manuals and then Office Safety Go to Safety Manuals and then Office Safety

Assignment You are to create a safety poster using one of the issues we talked about today. You are to create a safety poster using one of the issues we talked about today. It needs to be on at least a 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper. It needs to be on at least a 8 ½ x 11 sheet of paper. Be creative use words and pictures. Be creative use words and pictures. You may use the computer or do it by hand. You may use the computer or do it by hand. Use the websites listed and/or find your own to add suggestions to your poster Use the websites listed and/or find your own to add suggestions to your poster DUE IN ONE WEEK!!! DUE IN ONE WEEK!!!

QUESTIONS Ask any questions you may have and/or come and see me any time you like when you think of them. PLEASE STAY SAFE!!!