Workstation health and safety

Warming-up. Answer the questions:

1. What risks can the incorrect posture cause?

2. What features should the desk have to prevent health disease?
3. What advice could you give for users?
Vocabulary and Grammar
1. Write each statement to the corresponding part.
Should Shouldn’t

- Always shut down your laptop computer first if you need to move it.
- Do not move or lift your computer when it is on. Don’t drop your laptop.
- Run Scandisk regularly to check and repair your file systems.
- Keep CDs and DVDs in covers and hold them by the edge.
- Don’t turn your computer off for lunch breaks.
- Secure your hardware from sudden power surges.
- Connect all peripherals before you switch the computer on.
- Don’t load unauthorized software.
- Keep your keyboard and screen clean.
- Don’t clean your hardware with household polish or cleaner.
- Don’t eat or drink near the computer.
- Don’t disconnect the any peripherals if the PC is on.

Reading
1. Fill the gaps with the words below in the passage: to prevent, to ensure, forearms, to
allow, tilt, to arrange, stable
Posture when using a computer
Adopting the right posture when working at a computer is very important in order to
______health problems. You must _____ that employees are aware of good posture and
technique, including the importance of:

 avoiding sitting in the same position for long periods

  keeping their ____ roughly horizontal, and their eyes at the same height as the top of the
display screen equipment
 ensuring items that are regularly used are within easy reach
 positioning a mouse or other pointing device close by so they can use it with a relaxed
arm and a straight wrist
Workstation chairs should:

 be stable and ____ the user to work comfortably

 be adjustable in height
 have a seatback adjustable in height and ___

The work desk or work surface should:

 be big enough to allow the user _______ the screen, keyboard, documents, etc in a
flexible way
 have a matt surface
 be big enough to let the user work comfortably and to change position
 be ____ and positioned so that it's comfortable and easy to use where an employee uses a
document holder

Listening

1. Watch, listen “Getting your office space to work for you: How to set up your workstation”
and complete p.
1. The most common case of poor posture at a computer workstation is known as
‘________’ - sitting forward with a hunched back, bent neck and poked out chin.
2. Set monitor height to your __________ or just below and about arms distance
away.
3. The keyboard and mouse should be on the same level and directly in front of you,
_____ centimetres away from the edge of the desk.
4. If you have a_____________, make sure you use it!
5. If you’re moving from sitting to standing, you may need to make some
___________ like the monitor height.

Resourses:

1. https://www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk/content/workstation-health-and-safety-desks-chairs-
and-posture
2. https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazards/hazardous-manual-
tasks/working-with-computers/setting-up-your-workstation