Applied IT – Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Health and safety

When was the health and safety act last updated?

The act was last updated in 1992 to cover display-screen equipment.

What is the purpose of the health and safety act?

The purpose of the Health and Safety Act of 1974 is to protect the health, safety
and welfare of people in a working environment. It affects both employees and
employers.

What are the health and safety responsibilities of the employers?

There are four sections:
1. The employer must carry out an assessment of the workstation before the employee
is asked to work there;
2. The employer must provide all the training you require to complete your job safely
and effectively;
3. Any employees that work regularly with computers is entitled to a 15 minute break
every hour (however, any break from the screen is counted as a break);
4. Employers are required to provide regular eye tests for employees that work
regularly with computers, and the employer must provide glasses for employees
that require them.

What are the health and safety responsibilities of the employees?

Employees also have legal requirements:
1. Employees must adhere to guidelines provided by the employer during training;
2. Employers must be notified immediately of any issues.

Questions on Health and Safety

What is the break entitlement of those people that work at computers for long
periods of time?
Employees are entitled to fifteen minutes of rest time every hour. In practice this
is hard to enforce as trivialities such as fetching printing, visiting the photocopier
or purchasing drinks from vending machines all count towards break time.
In addition, many employees neglect their break entitlements as this may help
them with promotion prospects.

What is Carpel Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is similar to Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) in that it is
caused by repetitive movement, such as typing on a computer. It can be treated
with surgery.
Symptoms include soreness and tenderness in the hands.

Dan Foy Created on 11/10/2007 8:16 a10/p10

Subject – Document title

What causes a computer user eye strain?

Computer monitors emit an unnatural light source that humans haven’t evolved to
view correctly. Small text may also cause computer users to squint and tire their
eye muscles.

Why might men have more to worry about than females when using a computer
for long periods of time?
It has been suggested that the radiation emitted by computers may cause men to
become sterile.

List other health and safety issues from using a computer for long periods of
time
• Back, shoulder and neck ache caused by improper posture.

What is the major reason why people take absence from work?
Work-related stress has become the main cause of absence from work, overtaking
the common cold.

How is stress caused from using computers?

There are two main schools of thought:
1. Software packages such as those by Macromedia are hard to use;
2. Inability to use computers, particularly with older generations.

Dan Foy 2