Learning Outcome 3 -Computer Related Health Hazards - L14

8/13/2019 Learning Outcome 3 -Computer Related Health Hazards - L14

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550

BUSINESS COMPUTING

30 April 2013, 4:308:00 pm

Madhup Khatiwada

[email protected]


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Before we begin

Out of suffering have emerged the

strongest souls; the most massive

characters are seared with scars.

Kahlil Gibran


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Important Dates

4 Assessments (Each 3 hours exam)

1stAssessmentBased on MS Word (25 %)

Tentative date9thApril, 2013

2nd AssessmentBased on MS Excel (25 %)

Tentative date6th May, 2013

3rd AssessmentBased on MS Access (25 %)

Tentative date21stMay, 2013

4th AssessmentBased on other topics (25 %)

Tentative date11thJune, 2013Note: Refer to your Course Handbook for regulations relating to Recount/

Reconsideration of Marks. This must be applied for WITHIN 3 DAYSfrom the

date Assessment Feedback is provided by the lecturer or nominated

representative. All applications are to be submitted to your lecturer or

nominated representative. No reassessments are permitted for Final

Exams.


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Topics for Today

Computer related health hazards

Sitting postures

Heath and safety in employment act 1992


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COMPUTER RELATED

HEALTH HAZARDS


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Health and SafetyWhy?

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 lawHealth and Safety at Work Act(1974).


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Employer Obligations

By law employers must protect employees usingcomputers regularly and adhere to all Health andSafety Regulations.

Free eye tests must be provided by employersfor all employees who regularly use computers.

Note: These regulations apply only to offices -

not to students or pupils in schools or colleges.


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Research Topics

Repetitive Strain Injuries

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Eye Strains and Computer Vision Syndrome

Internet Addiction Stress and Depression

Radiation

Backache


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Ergonomics

Ergonomics, the "science of work," is a field of technology

that considers human capabilities and limitations in the

design of machines and objects that people use, the work

processes that they must follow, and the environments in

which they operate."


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Ergonomics

The science of designing safe and comfortablemachines and furniture for humans.

Enables us to adjust equipment properly to meetour needs.

Monitors

Keyboard

Chairs Lighting

Desks


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A few ergonomic advice Use a chair that has full support of your back, is adjustable, and has a

footrest and armrest

Place your feet firmly on the floor

Use an ergonomic keyboard that is angled or can split to enjoy a more

natural typing position

Use a wrist rest that is comfortable

Place your hands straight when typing, the angle of your forearm andupper arm should be 90 degrees

Sit 24 to 28 inches away from your monitor

Place the monitor 15-30 degrees below your straight-ahead line of sight

Keep your body away from the sides and backs of monitors to reduce the

exposure of radiation Avoid glare on your monitor (do not have strong sources of light in your

back) and use screens that minimize glare

Use the proper light in your work environment that is compatible with the

monitor frequency


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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a Repetitive Stress

Injury (RSI) caused when the median nerve is pushed by

the flexor tendons inside the tunnel made up of the wrist

bones, or carpals.


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How is CTS caused

The forearm flexor tendons and a few nerves pass

through a small tunnel formed by the wrist bones, or

carpals, into the hand. As you move you hands and

fingers, the flexor tendons rub against the sides of the

tunnel, sometimes causing them to swell and push themedian nerve. When the median nerve is pushed by the

tendons, we feel pain.


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Symptoms of CTS injury

Pain that may run up the hand into the wrist and arm

Numbness and coldness in the hands

Loss of strength and/or joint movement

Discomfort and stiffness in the hands The need to massage your hands, wrists and arms

Swelling and coldness in the hand


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Reasons for CTS injury

Stress will increase muscle tension causing pain

Long hours in the keyboard, especially those that typemore than four hours

Lack of circulation in the muscles that prevents nutrients

and oxygen to reach the tissues Inadequate rest and breaks

Genetic predisposition due to the amount of lubrication ofthe flexor tendons that one receives and the tunnel's

geometry Poor posture including the sitting, placement of hands on

the keyboard and proper height of the keyboard

Poor diet (lack of vitamins)


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CTS Treatment

Rest, rest and more rest

Use of a wrist brace or splint

Take medication like ibuprofen

Cut back on sugar, caffeine, alcohol and take vitamins Keep hands warm, take breaks, exercise your hands and

arms

Correct your typing and use your knowledge of

ergonomics Surgery should be your last retreat if everything else fails


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CTS Treatment


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Eye Strains

Eye strain is the single largest complaint of VDT users

causing soreness, irritation, blurred vision, redness,

dryness and tenderness of the eyes.


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Symptoms of Eye Strains

Impaired vision, double vision and blurred vision

Difficulty looking at one point for a period of time

Itchy dry eyes and discomfort while looking at the VDT

Headaches Eye fatigue that can have serious impact later in life


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Reasons for this injury

Bad monitor resolution, flickering, or glare at the monitor

Poor lighting conditions in the computer room

Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the VDT (UVA)

Staring at anything for a long period of time will causeblurred vision

Loss of negative ions in the atmosphere due to

electrostatic charges on the face of the CRT


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Eye Strain Treatment

Use your knowledge of ergonomics

Take breaks when you feel strained

Use your laptop when possible because the monitor emits

less radiationAdjust the brightness of your screen

Wear protective eye glasses


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Internet Addiction

Use Internet every day without days off

Loosing track of time while surfing the Net

Staying home more loosing social contacts

Denial of high usage 51% of Internet addicts suffer severe job impairment

58% get addicted within the first 12 months of Internet

usage


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Repetitive strain injury

CauseImproper use of Keyboard

How can RSI be avoided?CauseImproper use of Keyboard

Keyboard should be separate from the VDU.

Keyboard must be adjustable so that they can lie at an angle of 10degrees

Keyboard should have concave keys to prevent fingers slipping andreduce impact shock on fingertips, fingers, wrists, and arms.


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Tinnitus

Cause

Ringing in the ears and loss of hearing

Symptoms

Headaches, ringing ears

Prevention

Ear Plugs, sound proofing, Hardware maintenance

Cure

No cure available


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Radiation

What can be done to reduce radiation hazards?

Special radiation reduction shields on VDUs.


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Stress and Depression

Computer operators experience more stress than any

other occupational group the National Institute of

Occupational Safety and Health has studied.


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Other Computer Related Health Hazards

Back problems (pain) caused from the efforts of the

muscle to hold your posture for long periods of time

Skin rashes that are caused from the static fields in front

of the screen causing ions and pollutants in the air to

become positively charged and attach themselves to your

negatively charged skin (especially in low humidity)

Abnormal reproductive outcomes due to electromagnetic

radiation's affects on biological functions and biochemical

processes inside our cells


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Things that must be considered when designing an

office

1. Adequate lighting.

2. No glare.

3. Minimal noise.

4. Good leg room.5. Blinds

6. Appropriate software.

7. Placement of VDU.

8. Adjusted keyboard

9. Clear work surface

10. Adjustable chair

11. 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.

Documents

Learning Outcome 3 -Computer Related Health Hazards - L14