Safe Office Environoment

  Safe Environment

      

                    Desk and Chairs

·    Ensure that your chair and workstation are adjusted properly.

·    Place frequently used items within an easy arm’s reach and items that are used less often further away.

·    Avoid long periods of working in one position and repeating the same motions.

·    Vary tasks to change body position.

·     Eliminate monitor glare by properly positioning your desk

 

 

      Computer System

·    Keyboard height should allow straight wrists and a 90-degree angle between the upper arm and the forearm.

·    The keyboard height and angle should be adjustable.

·    The keyboard and mouse should have a wrist rest and /or mouse rest available for support when taking mini-breaks.

·    The standard keyboard should be replaced with an alternative keyboard and alternative mouse if a musculoskeletal disorder develops.

·     The keyboard should be able to support short cut software.

·     The monitor should be set at proper eye height.

·     The monitor should be placed perpendicular to the windows or in such a location that the windows are not directly in front of or behind the monitor.

·    The monitor should be placed on a solid, stable surface directly in front of your chair and directly over the center of the workstation knee well.

·    The monitor’s contrast and brightness controls should be adjusted to improve the screen image.

·    The monitor should be placed so that your eyes are at least an arm’s length from the screen.

·     The monitor should be supported so that the top edge of the screen is at your eye level.

 

     Noise

·    Excessive noise may increase staff stress and fatigue. General noise may be reduced by floor carpeting and by locating office areas away from sources of external noise.

·     Hard surfaces such as glass walls or white boards will act to increase the reflection of noise.

·    Telephone or other conversations can be distracting in open plan offices. Sound absorbing barriers may be considered if such noise is a problem.

·    Some office groups follow their own "low noise rules".

·    Some office machines have high noise levels. Supervisors should ensure their location, patterns and vicinity to staff are such as to prevent problems

 

 

                Lighting

 

 Overhead light may cause glare and can be reduced by the use of a panel diffuser.

Lighting with a dimmer control should be used with supplemental task lighting.

• Task lighting is designed to boost lighting levels in a highly localized area, so that overall lighting can be reduced to cut glare.

§Reduce direct sunlight by placing blinds or curtains on all windows.

 

·  Cover polished work surfaces with pads or blotters to reduce glare.

§ Reposition the angle and/or slope of the computer screen to reduce glare.

§ A non-glare screen overlay should be considered to reduce unwanted glare.

Temperature

·         Maintain a comfortable temperature, good air quality and adequate circulation in your workstation at all times.

• Temperature, air movement and humidity influence how comfortable an office becomes, particularly when sedentary tasks are performed. There are considerable differences between individuals in their preference for thermal comfort and it is unlikely that one temperature will suit everyone.
• Locating workstations so that the individual is not sitting close to, under, or in front of an air conditioning outlet may prevent staff being affected by draughts.