𝐿𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑛 2: 𝐼𝑛𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑜𝑚𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑇𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑛𝑜𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑦(𝐼𝐶𝑇)

                                𝐿𝐸𝑆𝑆𝑂𝑁 𝑇𝑊𝑂

HEALTH AND SAFETY

      There are a number of safety hazards linked with using computers and ICT devices. This section looks into some of these potential hazards and what you can do to prevent them. We will also look at some of the medical conditions and health problems that prolonged use of ICT devices can cause and what you can do to avoid them.

Health Problems

     There are a number of health problems that you can suffer if you use ICT devices incorrectly or for too long. The main ones are:

             • Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

            • Back and Neck Strain

            • Eye Strain and Headaches

Description of these health problems, their causes and how to prevent them.

1. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

 

 • RSI causes painful swelling of the wrist and fingers.     Sufferers with really bad RSI are unable to use their hands at all.

• RSI is caused by doing the same small movements over and over again across a long period of time. For example, clicking a mouse button repeatedly.

• Computer users who type and use a mouse all day long are commonly affected.

Preventing RSI

                         • Take breaks away from the computer

                         • Use an ergonomic keyboard

                         • Spacious work area

                         • Wrist rest

2. Back and Neck Problems

  

   • Back ache and neck ache can cause great pain and really affect the quality of your life

   • Both back and neck ache can be caused by sitting incorrectly and using poor quality chairs without back rests. This is called poor posture (see below).

Note! The Key to reducing wrist, finger, neck and back pains is ergonomics.

Ergonomics focuses on creating comfortable environments for people. Adjustable chairs, Wrist rests etc. are examples of ergonomics.

3. Eye Strain and Headaches

• Staring at a computer screen for too long can strain your eyes and cause headaches.

• Eye strain can cause your vision to blur.

• Common causes of eye strain are screen flicker and having direct light causing screen glare.

Preventing Eye Strain

                   • Take breaks away from computer

                   • Use an LCD screen rather than old CRT screen

                   • Use an anti-glare screen

                  • Keep the computer screen clean

SAFETY AND ISSUES

There are a number of safety issues that can arise from using ICT devices. Some of these safety issues include:

                         • Electrocution

                         • Tripping over wires

                         • Heavy equipment falling on you

                        • Fire risks

Description of these safety issues

1. Electrocution 

• Most ICT devices require an electrical power source.

• Whenever you have electrical power sources you run the risk of the electrocution.

Preventing Electrocution

                    • Don't use exposed electrical wires

                   • Keep drinks away from electrical equipment

                   • Never open up an electrical device

2. Tripping over wires and Cables

• ICT devices with wires can make a room a potential hazard.

• Trailing wires are easy to trip over if they are not secured or tucked away.

Preventing tripping over wires

                  • Hide wires in cable ducts

                 • Tuck wires under desks

                 • Use wireless devices

3. Heavy Equipment Falling on you

• Some ICT devices (like computer screens) are fairly           heavy and can cause injury if they fall on you.

• Equipment should be positioned securely on strong desks and tables well away from the edge.

Preventing equipment falling off desks

                 • Keep equipment away from the edge of desks

                • Use a strong desk that can take the weight

4. Fires

• ICT devices require power from a mains outlet.

• If too many devices are plugged into a single mains at the same time it is possible to overload the circuit and start an electrical fire.

• You need to ensure that your room has many plug sockets so you don't have to overload any single one.

Preventing electrical fires

            • Don't overload mains outlets (plug sockets)

            • Have a fire extinguisher in the room

            • Turn off and unplug devices when not in use

            • Do not cover up air vents on devices

𝑇𝐴𝑆𝐾 𝑇𝐼𝑀𝐸

Name:   MILDRED E. ESPINA     Score:                                 

Year & Section:      3-A              Date:   NOVEMBER 4, 2020

Instructor:   EFRAIM ORTEGA  

HEALTH & SAFETY

Directions: Supply what are being asked for.

Questions: 

1. There are a number of health risks linked with using ICT devices.

a. State what RSI stands for:

      REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURY

b. State one symptom of RSI is, two causes of RSI and two ways to prevent it:

One symptom of RSI:   PAINFUL SWELLING OF THE WRIST                                              AND FINGERS.

1st cause of RSI:   TYPING ON COMPUTER FOR TOO LONG.

2nd cause of RSI:  USING A MOUSE FOR TOO LONG                                             PERIOD.

1st way to prevent RSI:  TAKE BREAKS TO REST YOUR                                                     HANDS.  

2nd way to prevent RSI:  USE AN ERGONOMIC                                                                    KEYBOARD/MOUSE.

c. State two causes of back pain and two ways to prevent it:

1st cause of back pain:  WORKING IN A CRAMPED                                                            WORKSPACE.

2nd cause of back pain:  NOT SITTING UPRIGHT IN YOUR                                                   CHAIR.

 

1st way to prevent back pain:  TAKE REGULAR BREAKS TO                                                            STRETCH YOUR BODY.

2nd way to prevent back pain:  SIT UPRIGHT AGAINST                                                                    THE BACK REST.

d. Describe what is meant by Ergonomics. 

- ERGONOMICS IS THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING OR ARRANGING WORKPLACES, PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS SO THAT THEY FIT THE PEOPLE WHO USE THEM. IT ALSO THE STUDY OF HUMAN INTERACT WITH MANMADE OBJECTS. THE GOAL OF ERGONOMICS IS CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT THAT IS WELL-SUITED TO A USER’S PHYSICAL NEEDS. LIKE FOR EXAMPLE ADJUSTABLE CHAIR, WRIST REST ETC.

e. State  two causes of eye strain and two ways to prevent it:

1st cause of eye strain:  STARING AT COMPUTER SCREEN                                             FOR A LONG TIME.

2nd cause of eye strain:   WORKING IN ROOM WITH A BAD                                                LIGHTNING.

1st way to prevent eye strain:  TAKE  BREAKS AWAY FROM                                                        COMPUTER.

2nd way to prevent eye strain:   ENSURE THAT ROOM LIGHTING IS GOOD WITH NO DIRECT LIGHT CAUSING GLARE ON SCREEN.

2. There are a number of safety hazards that can arise from using ICT devices. 

a. State  two causes of electrocution and two ways to prevent it:

1st cause of electrocution:  FAULTY EQUIPMENT (BARE                                                           WIRES ETC)

2nd cause of electrocution:   SPILLING DRINKS OVER                                                               ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT.

1st way to prevent electrocution:  MAKE SURE WIRES ARE                                                              INSULATED.

2nd way to prevent electrocution: KEEP DRINKS AWAY                                                                      FROM EQUIPMENT.  

b. State  two ways to help prevent people tripping of computer wires and cables:

1st way to =prevent people tripping:  HIDE WIRES IN                                                                              CABLE  DUCTS.  

2nd way to prevent people tripping:  TUCK                                                          TRAILING  WIRES UNDER DESKS/CARPETS.

c. State two causes of falling ICT equipment and two ways to prevent it:

1st cause of falling equipment:  EQUIPMENT NOT                                                    POSITIONED SECURELY ONTO DESKS.

2nd cause of falling equipment:  POOR QUALITY AND                                                                         FLIMSY DESKS.

1st way to prevent falling equipment:   MAKE SURE THAT EQUIPMENT IS POSITIONED AWAY FROM THE EDGE OF DESKS.

2nd way to prevent falling equipment:   USE STRONG DESKS/TABLES THAT CAN SUPPORT THE WEIGHT WITH EASE.

d. State  two causes of electrical fires and three ways to prevent them:

1st cause of electrical fires:   TOO MANY DEVICES  PLUGGED INTO A SINGLE MAINS OUTLET.

2nd cause of electrical fires:   LEAVING DEVICES   PLUGGED IN UNATTENDED FOR LONG PERIODS.

1st way to prevent electrical fires:  MAKE SURE   THAT YOUR ROOM HAS PLENTY OF MAINS OUTLET.

2nd way to prevent electrical fires:  TURN OFF AND UNPLUG DEVICES IF YOU ARE GOING TO BE AWAY FOR A LONG TME.

3rd way to prevent electrical fires:   HAVE A CO2 FIRE                                                                   EXTINGUISHER AT HAND.

𝑊𝐴𝑇𝐶𝐻 𝑀𝐸

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