BTEC ICT

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BTEC ICT

• Unit 2 Computers and your health

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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).

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Hazards in an ICT workplace

• The main hazards to heath in an ICT workplace
  are
• Backache.
• Eyestrain.
• Headaches.
• Repetitive Strain Injury.
• Radiation.

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Backache

• What can be done to alleviate backache?
• Swivelling chairs.
• Movable base with castors.
• Adjustable back rests that support the lower back
  area.
• Regular breaks to change posture.

5
Eye strain and headaches

• What can be done to combat eye strain and
  headaches?
• No screen flicker.
• Angle, brightness, and contrast must be
  adjustable.
• Reduction of reflective light.
• Proper and adequate lighting.
• Free, regular eye tests for VDU operators.

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Repetitive strain injury

• How can RSI be avoided?
• Keyboard should be separate from the VDU.
• Keyboard must be adjustable so that they can lie
  at an angle of 10 degrees
• Keyboard should have concave keys to prevent
  fingers slipping and reduce impact shock on
  fingertips, fingers, wrists, and arms.

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Radiation

• What can be done to reduce radiation hazards?
• Special radiation reduction shields on VDUs.

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Things that must be considered when designing an
office
Is this typical? Is this safe?
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Things that must be considered when designing an
office

• Adequate lighting.
• No glare.
• Minimal noise.
• Good leg room.
• Blinds
• Appropriate software.
• Placement of VDU.
• Adjusted keyboard
• Clear work surface
• Adjustable chair
• Proper ventilation temperature

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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.

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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.