550 BUSINESS COMPUTING

30 April 2013, 4:30 8:00 pm Madhup Khatiwada madhup@myqueens.ac.nz

Before we begin
Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. Kahlil Gibran

Important Dates
4 Assessments (Each 3 hours exam)
1st Assessment Based on MS Word (25 %)

Tentative date 9th April, 2013 2nd Assessment Based on MS Excel (25 %) Tentative date 6th May, 2013 3rd Assessment Based on MS Access (25 %) Tentative date 21st May, 2013 4th Assessment Based on other topics (25 %) Tentative date 11th June, 2013
Note: Refer to your Course Handbook for regulations relating to Recount/ Reconsideration of Marks. This must be applied for WITHIN 3 DAYS from 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.

Topics for Today

Computer related health hazards Sitting postures Heath and safety in employment act 1992

COMPUTER RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS

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).

Employer Obligations
By law employers must protect employees using

computers regularly and adhere to all Health and Safety Regulations.

Free eye tests must be provided by employers

for all employees who regularly use computers. Note: These regulations apply only to offices not to students or pupils in schools or colleges.

Research Topics
Repetitive Strain Injuries

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Eye Strains and Computer Vision Syndrome Internet Addiction Stress and Depression Radiation Backache

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."

Ergonomics
The science of designing safe and comfortable

machines and furniture for humans.

Enables us to adjust equipment properly to meet

our needs.

Monitors Keyboard Chairs Lighting Desks

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 and upper 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

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.

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 the median nerve. When the median nerve is pushed by the tendons, we feel pain.

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

Reasons for CTS injury

Stress will increase muscle tension causing pain

Long hours in the keyboard, especially those that type

more 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 of the 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)

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

CTS Treatment

Eye Strains
Eye strain is the single largest complaint of VDT users

causing soreness, irritation, blurred vision, redness, dryness and tenderness of the eyes.

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

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 cause

blurred vision Loss of negative ions in the atmosphere due to electrostatic charges on the face of the CRT

Eye Strain Treatment

Use your knowledge of ergonomics

Take breaks when you feel strained

Use your laptop when possible because the monitor emits

less radiation Adjust the brightness of your screen Wear protective eye glasses

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

Repetitive strain injury

Cause Improper use of Keyboard
How can RSI be avoided? Cause Improper use of Keyboard 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.

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

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

Stress and Depression

Computer operators experience more stress than any

other occupational group the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has studied.

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

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

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.

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.