A sore wrist and a locked account
A support technician sets up a new desk. The screen is too low and the keyboard is too high. After a month the user has a sore neck and wrist.
Another user left the firm in March. Their account still works in June. Both are risks that nobody assessed.
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can give four reasons to assess risk when supporting users, with an example of each.
Key words
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| HSE | the Health and Safety Executive, the UK body that sets out how to keep people safe at work |
| Ergonomic | set up so that a person can work in comfort without strain |
| Accessibility | making sure people with disabilities can use equipment and systems |
| Contractor | a person who works for the organisation but is paid by another company |
| Asset value | how much something is worth to the organisation |
| Downtime | the time a system is not working |
| PESTLE | six headings for outside factors: political, economic, social, technological, legal, environmental |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Starter
Have a go
Starter
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Four reasons to assess risk
A support team does four things with a risk assessment.
- It follows HSE guidance, for example safe, ergonomic use of equipment and accessibility.
- It looks at the setting, for example with a PESTLE.
- It finds internal and external risks, for example who has system access: employees and contractors.
- It puts a money value on the harm, such as the cost of downtime.
Each reason with a support example
| Reason | Example | What you do |
|---|---|---|
| Follow HSE guidance | Set up a desk and screen | Check chair, screen height, keyboard and breaks |
| Follow HSE guidance | A user with a visual impairment | Offer large text, a screen reader or a bigger screen |
| Investigate the setting | A PESTLE for a new help desk system | Look at law, cost, people and technology |
| Find internal and external risk | System access for staff and contractors | Give only the access needed, and remove it when they leave |
| Put a number on the harm | Loss from downtime | Work out what each hour without the system costs |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
The law behind the first reason
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 says employers must keep staff safe. Rules on display screen equipment cover desks and screens.
The Equality Act 2010 says organisations must make reasonable changes so disabled people can work. Support staff often make those changes.
Check: the four reasons
Have a go
Check: the four reasons
4 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.