The Legal Framework Health and Safety Issues ICT1

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The Legal FrameworkHealth and Safety
IssuesICT1
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Health and Safety Issues

• For some years there has been concern about the
  effects on workers of using computer hardware and
  software for prolonged periods
• The hardware issues focus on the following areas
• Concern about the effect on eyesight
• Repetitive strain injury
• General aches and pains
• Stress
• Ozone emissions
• Software design can also affect the health of
  users so consideration needs to be given to its
  design

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HSE Regulations

• In 1992 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
  published new Regulations on the use of "Display
  Screen Equipment" (DSE)
• That is equipment incorporating a visual display
  screen of some sort.
• All legislation stems from the Health Safety at
  Work Act 1974.
• Health Safety (Display Screen Equipment)
  Regulations 1992

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Employers Responsibilities

• Analyse workstations of employees covered by the
  Regulations assess reduce risks
• Employers need to look at the hardware, the
  environment factors specific to individuals
  using equipment. The employer must take steps to
  reduce risks.
• Ensure workstations meet minimum requirements
• Plan work so there are breaks or changes of
  activity
• Short frequent breaks are better. When these
  breaks are taken should be left to the discretion
  of the individual
• On request arrange eye eyesight tests,
  provide spectacles if special ones are needed
• Provide health safety training
• Provide information
• Should cover what the employer has done to comply
  with the Regulations. For example, action taken
  to reduce the risks arrangements for breaks.

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Concern About the Effect on Eyesight

• Health Risk
• VDU's have been blamed for causing eyestrain due
  to frequent changing of the eyes focal length
• There are claims that prolonged exposure can lead
  to the development of cataracts
• Solution
• Companies provide free eye tests for employees
  working with VDU's and legislation concerning the
  ambient lighting in the room has been introduced
• An employer may also provide screen filters that
  increase contrast and reduce background
  reflections
• The VDU should be positioned to reduce external
  reflections from windows or blinds should be used
  to reduce the light reaching the screen from the
  window
• Breaks every hour
• Changes in work patterns

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Repetitive strain injury

• Health Risk
• This is most prevalent amongst people whose work
  involves long periods of intense keyboard work
  (repeatedly hitting the keys)
• It is thought to be due to inflammation of the
  wrist tendons
• Solution
• A solution is to have correctly
• positioned keyboards and adjustable
• chairs so that the angle between
• the wrist and hand is correct
• Wrist supports can also be used
• Workers should be allowed regular
• breaks

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Musculo-skeletal problems

• Health Risk
• Some users may suffer from physical problems. For
  heavy users, pains and/or tingling in the fingers
  and arms are frequent complaints. Stiffness and
  aching in the neck, shoulders, back and legs may
  also be encountered.
• Solution
• Ensure the correct relationship
• between the positions of the
• keyboard the head and the VDU
• This requires swivel mounted
• VDU's
• Adjustable 5 point chairs
• Use of foot rests

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Stress

• Health Risk
• Working with a computer can be stressful in that
  the computer can handle data as quickly as the
  operator can enter it
• In addition the introduction of computer
  technology tends to depersonalise the work
  environment, reducing the opportunity of human
  contact, so that a stress relieving chat or
  gossip is no longer possible
• Solution
• The solution to this is better office
• layout and design and development of
• small teams to allow personal interaction
• Improved training to ensure staff can cope
• with the software they are using

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ELF (Extremely Low Frequency Radiation)

• As yet, there is no firm evidence that the
  electromagnetic radiation from VDU screens has a
  harmful effect but there are doubts about long
  term effects.
• Can be minimised by using low radiation screens
  and by sitting at least 50cm from the screen.
• a very small number of people may be sensitive to
  the atmosphere around VDUs.
• They can develop a skin rash that is thought to
  be caused by a build up of static in dry, dusty
  environments.
• Raising humidity and reducing dust levels will
  often alleviate these problems completely.

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Epilepsy

• A small percentage of people suffer from
  photosensitive epilepsy (attacks are triggered by
  flashing lights). VDU screens do not usually
  trigger attacks.
• Using screens with low refresh rates (below
  60Hz) and adjusting brightness can reduce the
  risk.

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Ozone Emissions

• Health Risk
• Laser printers generate ozone during normal
  operation which cause health problems
• Solution
• Ensure that ozone filters are replaced regularly
• Ensure that printers are located away from
  working areas

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Screen height adjusted using plinth or monitor
arm (if required)
Neutral wrist position

Keyboard parallel to desk edge
Leave space in front of keyboard for hands and
arms to rest
Make room underneath the desk to allow you to
move your legs





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Slight downward viewing angle.

Back well supported and at a comfortable angle
Use a footrest if you're not sitting comfortably
with feet flat on the floor



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Laptops

• The following points affect laptops
• The keyboard and screen are normally fixed and so
  it is impossible to position them separately
• Some screens are too small for prolonged use
• They are often used on surfaces at the wrong
  heights.

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Electrical Safety

• Electrical work must be carried out by a person
  qualified to do the job.
• All electrical appliances should be checked
  visually and for earth leakage regularly.
• Loose cables must not run across walkways or work
  areas.
• All permanent wiring must be in suitable conduit
  and kept separate from signal cables

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Software Issues

• The design features of software can have effects
  on the health and safety of the user
• Screen layout
• Matching existing data input forms - makes
  software more intuitive, less stressful
• Font / Size Use legible fonts of a reasonable
  size, not excessive helps prevent eye strain
• Colour Avoid flashing banners, make sure fonts
  are displayed in a legible colour on a sensible
  background helps prevent eye strain

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Software Issues

• Software functionality
• Short cuts provide short cut keys / macros to
  allow frequently used features to be accessed
  easily helps reduce RSI
• Pre coding/use of drop down lists provides
  quick way of entering data easily and accurately
  helps reduce RSI and stress
• Validation to prevent errors helps prevent RSI
  due to re-typing
• Help provided - on-line / documentation helps
  prevent stress
• Auto save facilities prevents retyping
• Common User Interface with other packages
  used/easy to understand icons reduces learning
  times and promotes confidence reducing stress
• Clear error messages give guidance on how to
  correct problems reducing stress

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Ergonomics

• Designing equipment and systems including
  computers, so that they are easier to use and
  less likely to lead to errors in operation
• Designing tasks and jobs so that they are
  effective and take account of human needs such as
  rest breaks and sensible shift patterns
• Designing equipment and work arrangements to
  improve working posture and ease the load on the
  body, thus reducing instances of Repetitive
  Strain Injury/Work Related Upper Limb Disorder
• Design of training arrangements to cover all
  significant aspects of the job concerned and to
  take account of human learning requirements.
• Designing working environments, including
  lighting and heating, to suit the needs of the
  users and the tasks performed