GCSE ICT - Computers and your health
Health and Safety – Why?
 People have a right to be safe at
work.
 All employers must do as much as
they can to ensure that their workers are
safe.
 This is enforceable in law – Health
and Safety at Work Act (1974).
Hazards in an ICT workplace
 Backache – What can be done to
alleviate backache?
o Swivelling chairs.
o Movable base with castors.
o Adjustable back rests that
support the lower back area.
o Regular breaks to change
posture.
 Eye strain and headaches – What can
be done to combat eye strain and
headaches?
o No screen flicker.
o Angle, brightness, and
contrast must be adjustable.
o Reduction of reflective light.
o Proper and adequate lighting.
o Free, regular eye tests for VDU
operators.
 Repetitive strain injury – How can RSI
be avoided?
o Keyboard should be separate
from the VDU.
o Keyboard must be adjustable
so that they can lie at an angle of 10
degrees
o Keyboard should have
concave keys to prevent fingers
slipping and reduce impact shock on
fingertips, fingers, wrists, and arms.
 Radiation –What can be done to
reduce radiation hazards?
o Special radiation reduction
shields on VDUs.
Things that must be considered
when designing an office
 Avoid the use of single pendant
lamps as they produce glare on computer
VDUs.
 Use florescent tubes with diffusers or
that produce artificial daylight.
 Avoid the use of carpets made from
artificial fibres as these cause static
electricity.
 Things that must be considered when
designing an office
 Windows should have adjustable
blinds so that sunlight will not produce
glare on computer VDUs.
 Cables should be ducted and not
allowed to trail across the floor.
 Sufficient power sockets with surge
resisters should be installed so that only
one piece of equipment is plugged in to
each socket.
 GCSE ICT - Computers and your health

Tasks:
Look carefully at the following picture of an office.
Circle and list all the health and safety hazards that you can find.
Extension Task:
Does the room that you normally study ICT in comply with what you have learned about Health
and Safety? If it does not, why doesn’t it?