Eight hours, one screen
Sam works on a help desk. He looks at two screens for eight hours. By Friday his neck aches and his eyes sting.
The next week he runs cable along a wall, up a ladder. Which jobs here can hurt him, and what must his employer do?
By the end of this lesson
Note
I can name the risks of digital work and the steps an employer takes to cut them.
Key words
| Word | What it means | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Display screen equipment | a screen, keyboard and mouse used for work | a desktop computer |
| Workstation | the desk, chair and equipment one person uses | |
| Assessment | a check to find problems and decide what to do | |
| Mitigate | to make a risk smaller | |
| Trip hazard | something on the floor that people can fall over | |
| Safety equipment | items that protect you | gloves, goggles, safety shoes |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Starter: last lesson
Have a go
Starter: last lesson
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.
Screen work has its own rules
The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 apply to staff who use a screen for a lot of their work. Long screen work can cause eye strain, neck and back pain, and sore wrists.
The employer has four duties.
What the employer does for screen users
| Duty | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Assess each workstation | Check the chair, desk height, screen position and lighting |
| Reduce the risks, including breaks | Plan short breaks or a change of task away from the screen |
| Provide an eye test if asked | Staff who use a screen may ask for one, and the employer arranges it |
| Give training and information | Show staff how to set up a chair and screen |
The cells students fill in are left blank in this preview.
Check
Have a go
Check
3 questionsYour answers are marked here and are not kept. A college account keeps every student’s marks.