Personal Computer World 1995 June/pcw-0695.iso/share/datasaur/lamb/health.txt

Text File | 1994-07-16 | 4.9 KB | 173 lines

Abbreviations:
EU       The new name for the EEC.
PC       Used here to refer to any micros or
             terminals.
SVGA  High-resolution PC display.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Using a PC is hardly a hazardous
occupation, but a little common sense is
needed to ensure that you do not suffer any
ill-effects. If you are a manager, you are
responsible for yourself and your staff.

Legally employers are obliged to ensure
that all workstations installed after 31/12/92
comply with EU requirements and that all
existing ones comply by 31/12/96.

There is nothing bureaucratic about the
EU's requirements - it's a sensible directive
designed to help employers look after their
employees' health.

So, who does it apply to?

Aside from control room staff and users of
portables, it applies to all people who use
PCs for more than around 3 hours a day.

What must an employer or manager do?

1 Ensure that workstations meet the
minimum requirements (see later).

2 Make sure that staff receive training
before using a workstation.

3 Ensure that staff do not use PCs without
regular breaks. Encourage them to look
away from the screen regularly & take a
short break every 10 minutes or so  to do
some non-screen work.

4 Offer free eyesight checks to staff.

5 Monitor staff health by encouraging them
to report ill-health. This might reveal
problems with the workstation, environment
or the demands being placed on the
employee.
It would be a good idea for managers to
discuss workstation problems regularly,
perhaps at staff meetings. This would allow
problems to be identified early. Perhaps a
PC is now too slow for the software that it's
running? Perhaps a screen has developed
a flicker because it is too close to another
one.

What is a good, safe workstation?

1 Computer equipment should be placed on
adequate desks - not precariously perched
on a rickety wreck.

2 There should be no trailing wires to trip
the unwary, no dodgy connections to
electrocute them and no sharp edges to
vivisect them.

3 The image must be stable. If it is flickering
or wobbling it might be that the screen is
about to die, or that other screens are too
near. Cheap monitors flicker; they should
not be bought.

4 Text on the screen should be large
enough to be read comfortably. Special
consideration should be given to staff who
have impaired eyesight.

5 The user must control settings such as
brightness and contrast. The monitor
should tilt and swivel. Few modern PCs
should fail the test.

6 The screen should not be subject to
intrusive reflections. Usually this simply
means closing blinds.

7 Desks should not be shiny.

8 Seats should have adjustable seat
heights and backs. Users should be able to
swivel and roll gleefully.

9 Footrests should be available on request.

10 Document holders should be available
on request. Holders should be placed by
the side of the screen so that the user can
read and type easily. Consider scanning
text rather than retyping. Flatbed scanners
are cheap and effective.

11 Consider issues such as screen
radiation, low humidity and excessive heat if
staff develop rashes or ill-health.

Software must be designed to look after the
user...so here are a few tips for managers,
analysts and programmers:

1 Software must be suitable for the task. So
don't force your users to use old Word
Processors for spreadsheet functions.

2 It must be easy to use and adaptable to
the user's experience. This means help,
preferably context sensitive, to help
beginners and 'fastpaths' for the old hands.

3 Feedback is essential. If the PC is doing
something, the user must know. The
Window's hourglass is a good example of
this.

4 The screen should be intuitive. So plan
the screen to suit the user and his workflow
- not to suit the programmer.

What should the user do?

Be proactive - after all it is your mental and
physical well-being that is at stake. Do not
suffer in silence - PCs and off-the-shelf
software are very cheap, much cheaper for
your company than you taking days off sick.

If you are suffering ill-health, and cannot
easily fathom out why, keep a diary of what
you suffer and when. See if certain events
occur that trigger your illness.

For instance:
1 Do your hands or back hurt after being
asked to type long documents.

2 Do you get migraines or rashes after busy
spells in front of a PC?

 3 Do you suffer neck pains?

The list could go on and on.

Some things to watch out for:

1 Slow PCs  cause stress. Your PC should
be able to keep up with you; if it can't, ask
for a more powerful one. PCs running
Windows and the latest (1993) software
need to be 486DXs with 8MB of RAM.

2 Slow mainframes are more of a problem
because of their cost - but you should still
complain. There might be a simple solution.

Have a nice day!
David Warner. Datasaurus Ltd.