hansen – managing safely 1 working safely with display screen equipment mark mallen health and...

Hansen – managing safely 1

Working Safely With Display Working Safely With Display Screen EquipmentScreen Equipment

Mark Mallen

Health And Safety ManagerFenlock-Hansen Ltd


Please Please

Switch off or place on silent


Introduction Introduction

DSE?Why am I here?


Course ContentCourse Content

Legal framework Hazards and potential health effectsUsers and those at riskSetting up workstationsUsing the workstationExercisesSummary


Legal FrameworkLegal Framework

The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992

– the ‘VDU Regs’– Part of the ‘six pack’– Aim of preventing ill health – Imposes legal responsibilities and duties



Employers’ Duties

– Assess risks– Provide a healthy workplace– Ensure workstations comply– Eyesight tests– Provide information, instruction and

training



Employees’ duties

– Follow the rules – Work safely– Report problems


Hazards And Potential Health Hazards And Potential Health EffectsEffectsHazards

– Poor posture– Too long– Poor working environment– Poor management of workload


Hazards And Potential Health Hazards And Potential Health EffectsEffects Potential health effects

– Visual discomfortSore IrritatedTired

– Headaches– Upper limb disorders– Aches and pains – Stress


Vision Vision

Eyesight gradually worsens with ageContact lenses

– A dry atmosphere– Blinking less

Use the Hansen Eyecare schemeReport problems Seek medical advice


MusculoskeletalMusculoskeletal

General fatigue, aches and pains– Workstation problem– May indicate other problems


MusculoskeletalMusculoskeletal

Many musculoskeletal disorders start with – Numbness– Tingling– Aching hands, fingers or limbs


Musculoskeletal Musculoskeletal

Long term– Problems may get worse

Don’t leave things If you suffer discomfort

– Report itSeek medical advice asap


Common MisconceptionsCommon Misconceptions

Do not give off harmful radiationCause complications during pregnancy

– Source: national radiological protection board

Unlikely to induce epileptic seizures or fits

Discuss concerns with your doctor


Common MisconceptionsCommon Misconceptions

Eyesight– Do not damage eyesight– Any concerns

Seek advice


Users and Those at RiskUsers and Those at Risk

Defined as– Have no alternative– Need significant training or particular skills– Continuous spells of an hour or more– Use the equipment most days– Have to input data quickly or accurately– Need high levels of concentration or

undertake critical work


UsersUsers

Hansen define regular users as– Either at least one-hour continuous work

or– Two hours accumulatively

Risk low if users follow safe working procedures


High Risk UsersHigh Risk Users

Working all day with a screen InputtingWord processingA computer aided design (CAD)

operator


Moderate Risk UsersModerate Risk Users

A secretary or personal assistant


Low Risk UsersLow Risk Users

A salesperson that inputs daily sales figures

Somebody that does not use a DSE every day


Not UsersNot Users

A senior manager who uses the screen for brief enquiries


Not UsersNot Users

A receptionist, who occasionally, interrogates a system


Assessing the RiskAssessing the Risk

– Assess each workstation– Trained assessors– Standard pro forma– ‘Ergonomic approach’


Setting Up WorkstationsSetting Up Workstations

Ergonomics– Adapting the task to fit the worker– Adjust and use the equipment in an

ergonomic wayNo single, perfect workstation Adjusted to individual’s requirements


The WorkstationThe Workstation

The chairA footrest (if required)HIDsThe display screenThe worktop


The WorkstationThe Workstation

A properly adjusted workstation– Comfortable and pleasant to use – Prevents ill health– May increase productivity


Posture and SeatingPosture and Seating

Working in an awkward position

Short term– Aches, pains and fatigue

Long term harm – Strain on joints and muscles


Seat Height and TiltSeat Height and Tilt

Height– Forearms horizontal with the keyboard

Tilt (if fitted)– Thighs horizontal


Seat Height and TiltSeat Height and Tilt

Feet flat on the floor or footrest

Weight on buttocks– Not thighs


Back SupportBack Support

Should fit the curve of the spineAdjust the angle (if possible)

– Upright posture – Erect head and relaxed shoulders

Varying position helps avoid stiffness


Arm RestsArm Rests

Personal preferenceMay be beneficialShould not interfere with keying Should allow the chair under the deskNot a legal requirement


Chair PositionChair Position

Allow room– Prevent stiffness

Do not store items under the desk If the desk is not height adjustable

– Set the chair for the best keyboard height


Posture and SeatingPosture and Seating

In summary– Head up– Back straight – Lower back supported – Shoulders back – Forearms level with the desk – Wrists relaxed– Feet flat on the floor or on the footrest


KeyboardKeyboard

Directly in front of the userGap to rest the heels of the handsFingers comfortably on the keys

– Adjust the angle of slopePosition devices

– Do not stretch too far


‘‘Mouse Work’Mouse Work’

Comfortable and convenient positionMove keyboard until it is requiredDevice used most often to the frontAdjust the controls to personal

preference


Keyboard and Mouse WorkKeyboard and Mouse Work

Caution, with extreme concentration– Users may become fixated– Ignore arm and hand position– Causing cramp and wrist strain


The Display ScreenThe Display Screen

Adjust to suit workplace lightingMoving the screen may eliminate

reflectionCheck the screen for glare or

reflections



Glare– Can be irritating– Cause eye fatigue– Force users to adopt awkward postures



Face the screen looking slightly downThe top of the screen slightly below

eye heightViewing distance between 350mm and

750mm



Tilted at right angles to the line of sightCheck refresh rate, 80hzAdjust the brightness and contrast Re-adjust if light levels change Large screens need more desk

space,readjust



Keep the screen clean – Degrades the image– Highlights glare– May make reasonably positioned screen

difficult to use


Glare FiltersGlare Filters

Can reduce reflectionsMay affect qualityUse where moving a screen or light

source cannot reduce glareShould only be used as a last resort


HousekeepingHousekeeping

Everything within easy reachStretching or reaching can cause

stress and strain


HousekeepingHousekeeping

Keep cables under control to prevent tripping

Store work and personal items out of the way

Keep the work area free from clutterKeep papers under control on the deskA tidy desk is a healthy desk


Adjusting WorkstationsAdjusting Workstations

Ideal position – Display screen and keyboard – Directly in front of the user

Some tasks require more space in front Some touch typists prefer a document

holder– Prevents users frequently moving their

heads


Using the WorkstationUsing the Workstation

The risks from using DSE

– Working for too long in one position– Working with a poor posture– Working for too long without a break


Most at RiskMost at Risk

Inputting large amounts of data within limited time scales

Data input clerksWord processor operatorsCAD operators


Reducing the RiskReducing the Risk

Regularly change postureManage the workloadTake regular breaksAbout 5-10 minutes in every hourBreak up the screen work throughout

the day



Guidance from the regulations– Breaks of 5 - 10 minutes, every 50 - 60

minutes– Frequent short breaks

If not– Change position regularly– Stand– Flex your body



Maintain a good working environment– Reasonable temperature – Acceptable humidity– Reasonably well ventilated


Exercises to Prevent Aches Exercises to Prevent Aches and Painsand PainsSeek medical advice

– before starting any exercise – or if you have a medical condition

Stop if you experience any pain


Exercises To Prevent Aches Exercises To Prevent Aches And PainsAnd PainsWarm up

– Flex the fingers and wrist– Rub your hands together to warm up the

muscles

Eyes– Regularly look away from the screen– At objects in the far distance


Exercises to Prevent Aches Exercises to Prevent Aches and Painsand PainsNeck

– Face straight ahead, slowly turn the head one way then the other

– Roll your head from side to side

Shoulders– Shrug the shoulders and release


Exercises to Prevent Aches Exercises to Prevent Aches and Painsand PainsArms

– Raise arms over head and stretch

Back– Move slightly forward on the chair– Straighten up, raising chest up and out– Hold for a few seconds, and then relax


Exercises to Prevent Aches Exercises to Prevent Aches and Painsand PainsWrists and hands

– Flex and rotate the wrists– Spread the fingers as wide as possible

and hold for a few seconds

Repeat a few times


RememberRemember

These exercises can be undertaken at the workstation

Without much effortWill help to keep joints and muscles

loose and flexible


In SummaryIn Summary

Health effects biggest issue Ill health can be minimisedSet up the workstation properlyOrganise the workVision problems or headaches

– Ask for an eye test


In SummaryIn Summary

Take exerciseStillness is our enemyReport problemsBetter to deal with ‘aches and pains’

than ill-health issues


Working Safely With Display Working Safely With Display Screen EquipmentScreen Equipment

Thanks for listening– Any questions

Be safe

hansen – managing safely 1 working safely with display screen equipment mark mallen health and...

Documents

users hansen

training slide

doctor slide

silent slide

medical advice slide

critical work slide

pains stress slide

personal assistant slide