Computer Health and Safety

Health and Safety When Using Computers

The number of computers in the workplace has multiplied rapidly over the past decades and their use has increased. Computers have become habitual and a significant part of their work for many people. Employers tend now to think of computers as security risks in terms of possible theft of data or unathaurised computer use and the employee health and safety issues can, therefore, be easily overlooked.

What can or should an employer do?

Regulations necessitate employers to carry out risk assessments of the workstations their employees use. This assessment should cover the entirety of the work unit, including all equipment, furniture and the environment generally.

Employers have a responsibility to their employees to ensure their health and safety when using a computer and they are according to the law required to:

• Ensure Visual Display Units (VDUs are more commonly known as monitors or screens) are safe e.g. use anti-glare screens, a separate base for the screen and a stable image;
• Make sure workstations are designed to reduce risk to the user e.g. adjustable chairs, tiltable screens and keyboards and foot support and leg room;
• Ensure workstations meet safety requirements e.g. no trailing wires or overloaded electrical sockets, good lighting and room temperatures;
• Plan the work so that employees take regular breaks by changing the type of work done;
• Arrange for an eye test if needed or requested; and
• Provide health and safety training information on the use of a computer e.g. the importance of breaks, good posture and health risks.

Whether an employee is working at home or at an office, if their work requires them to use a VDU for a long period of time, regulations must be complied with. If there is any cause for concern that the above is not being met, as an employee you should notify your employer or the safety representative at your company.

What can an employee do?

Employees must cooperate with their employers and be aware of the health risks and precautions they can take to reduce the risks associated with the computer. They can take practical measures. Under law, you have the right to take frequent breaks away from your workstation. These breaks are not necessarily for rest, but a change in the type of work you do.

Whilst sitting at the workstation, the most common error made by people is the way they sit. They have a tendency to adjust themselves to the workstation. Rather than doing that, you should adjust your chair, your monitor and your keyboard so that you are comfortable and holding a good posture. The screen should be at eye level for example.

Recent studies have shown the link between damaged eyesight and VDU use. If your eyes are tired, eyesight becomes blurry or you experience headaches, you should report it to your employer and book yourself in for an eye test. You have the right to a free eyesight test and if you are a wearer of glasses and require them to work, your employer should pay for a basic pair of spectacles for use at work.

As an employee, you should also pay heed to health and safety rules regarding computers. If you feel your employer is not meeting standards, you should inform them.

What types of injuries can someone suffer from using computers?

There are several injuries that are caused by frequent use of computers; the recurrent problems are repetitive strain injury, eye strain, back pain, and musculoskeletal problems.

Many of the problems caused by regular computer usage are temporary and can resolve by simply implementing corrective action. Most problems can be prevented too. However, if you do experience or develop any problems, medical advice should be sought promptly.

Computer associated problems occur because of several reasons, for example, you are sitting in the same position for too long, excessive use of the mouse, bad positioning of the wrist and hands in relation to the keyboard, inadequate back support or working at the computer for prolonged periods of time.

What about laptops?

Laptops probably cause more problems because of the size of the screen and the way the mouse and keyboard are inbuilt. Therefore it is advisable to use the laptop with a docking station, which allows you to use a separate keyboard and mouse. The same risks are associated and the same precautions can be taken with a laptop as you would with a computer.