Health and Safety in ICT

Learning objectives Learn about Health and Safety within ICT. Understand what is meant by risk assessment and how employers are responsible for the health and safety of their employees. Learn what precautions can be taken to reduce health and safety risks in the workplace. 2 of 14 © Boardworks Ltd 2007

Touch the health and safety hazards

The purpose of the act The Health and Safety at Work Act means that employers have a duty to look after the health and safety of their employees. It’s not just builders and miners who need health and safety. People who work with computers also need to take care. Employers have to assess the risk of the employee getting hurt or becoming ill and do all they can to avoid it happening. This is called risk assessment. Most problems are caused by the fact that people are sitting in the same position doing the same task over and over again.

Risk assessment Employers need to look at: the whole workstation including equipment, furniture, and the work environment the job being done any special needs of individual staff. They have to decide what the risks are and do as much as they can to reduce them.

The words

Reducing the risks

Back pain Hazard – sitting at the wrong height and in the same position for long periods of time. Risk – back pain or even damage to the spine. Precaution – use an adjustable chair and adjust it to the correct position. Training – sit in the chair properly, so the back is supported. Use a footrest, if you need one, to be comfortable. Change position regularly.

Back pain Four out of five people will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives. This means roughly five million people need to be treated by doctors every year for this condition. The Health and Safety Act ensures that employers have a duty to provide regular assessment of their workstations and ensure that correct equipment and training is provided to prevent injury. Information Source: www.besttreatments.co.uk/btuk/conditions/1557.html Photo credit: ©2007 Crown Copyright

Repetitive strain injury (RSI) Hazard – making the same movements with the hands and fingers over and over again. Risk – pain and damage to the joints. Precaution – adjust your keyboard to a comfortable position. Use a wrist rest. Training – try to keep your wrists straight when keying. Photo credit: ©2007 JupiterImages Corporation

Eye strain Hazard – glare or reflections from windows or lights and a dirty screen. Continually looking at a screen without taking a break. Risk – painful headaches, sore eyes. Precaution – fit blinds to windows, position monitor away from glare and reflection. Set font to a suitable size. Photo credit: ©2007 JupiterImages Corporation Training – remember to look away and blink regularly. Adjust brightness of monitor depending on the lighting in the room.

Design of workstations

Design of tasks If possible, it is better for employees to have a change of task rather than sit in front of a screen all day. If that isn’t possible, they will need to take regular short breaks. The fact that computers provide a record of every working moment can put a lot of stress on employees who are expected to meet very demanding targets. Employers can help by providing the right training and setting realistic targets. They should also make sure that the employees have regular eyesight checks. Photo credit: ©2007 JupiterImages Corporation

Make a health and safety poster Photo credit: X-ray images courtesy of Backcare http://www.backcare.org.uk Ph(0845 130 2704) Other images ©2007 JupiterImages corporation

Summary Employers have a duty to look after the health and safety of their employees. Employers need to assess the workstation, the type of job performed and any special requirements of their staff. Back pain can be reduced by having the correct height work surface and an adjustable chair. Eye strain can be reduced by clean screens and keeping monitors away from glare and reflection. RSI can be reduced by improving your keying position. Regular breaks and annual eye checks are also important. Appropriate training should be given to minimize the risk of injury.