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Archive for the ‘Workplace Ergonomics News’ Category
Global Health and Safety E-Learning specialists, EssentialSkillz, have launched a new interactive PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) course in their unique, editable format. 
The company provides interactive E-Learning for Health and Safety and HR. The addition of PPE E-Learning to their course library increases the number of courses available to 23.
The course is aimed at all employees from the workshop floor up. As with all EssentialSkillz E-Learning, the course is fully editable, using the authoring tool integrated into the LMS, O-LAS.
The course includes an editable self test and can have an employee risk assessment attached to it using the built in assessment tool, O-LAS Assess.
Managing Director, Julian Roberts, commented:
“We are constantly developing new courses and a good, up to date, PPE course is the perfect addition to our range. We are the only supplier able to offer such a wide range of courses in a completely editable format and this new PPE course sets new standards for the health and safety E-Learning industry”.
A Cardiff construction site manager has been fined after failing to comply with two safety orders issued to protect workers from injury.
Mr Haider Zaman, 53, trading as Pride Builders, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) for ignoring two Improvement Notices served while he was refurbishing two residential properties in the Cathays area of Cardiff.
During an unannounced inspection of the two sites on 1 March 2011, HSE inspectors found sub-standard safety measures in relation to working at height, asbestos safety and structural stability and issued three Prohibition Notices ordering Mr Zaman to cease work immediately.
Two Improvement Notices relating to asbestos safety training and health and safety competence training were subsequently served to Mr Zaman.
Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard the Improvement Notices served on Mr Zaman gave him until 10 May 2011 to make the necessary improvements. However, on returning to the site a week later HSE inspectors found the notices had not been complied with, and identified further sub-standard control measures for working at height.
Mr Haider Zaman, trading as Pride Builders, of 174 Mackintosh Place, Cardiff pleaded guilty to two breaches of Section 33 (1)(g) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined a total of £1,280 and ordered to pay costs of £1,500 as well as a victim surcharge of £15.
Gerry Wainwright examines the role of ergonomic tool design in helping reduce workplace accidents.
The effective use of ergonomically-designed tools undoubtedly has a major role to play in helping organisations achieve the aspiration of zero occupational accidents.
The science of ergonomics covers virtually everything we use in everyday life and is very clearly defined by the Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors as “the application of scientific information concerning humans to the design of objects, systems and environments for human use”. As a result, ergonomic design has a vital role in the prevention of occupational ill health, in addition to reducing injury and accidents.
This is especially the case with hand and power tools, where the design of every tool used for an activity should be based on its ergonomic properties – i.e. how it interacts with a specific task, such as manufacturing processes or maintenance work, as well as with the person. Risks can be minimised by ensuring that tools are both ergonomically designed and fit for purpose, and that all staff involved in their use are properly trained and fully aware of how the tool should be operated, as well as the equipment provided for specific tasks.
EssentialSkillz, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of world-class online Health & Safety training and risk assessment software solutions has launched a Webinar Programme for health & Safety and HR training professionals.
Training through E-Learning is one of the most cost effective methods of delivering Health and Safety or HR training. The free webinars will demonstrate the power of E-Learning and how effective it can be as a training tool.
Each webinar takes 30 minutes and will give an insight into:
- The range of courses available from EssentialSkillz
- The benefits of training through E-Learning
- How an online management system can help you control training and track compliance
- Effective online employee risk reduction
- Author your own E-Learning courses
- Editing EssentialSkillz courses
If you’ve ever spent several hours sitting a computer terminal, you’ll know how quickly it can lead to bad posture, which can then result in joint pain and repetitive strain injuries. With this in mind, how can you make sure that there are good ergonomics in your workplace. Fortunately, you don’t need to make radical changes to make this happen and this article will guide you through some relatively minor alterations that can be made to improve your posture and general health.
Feet
You should be able to plant your feet flat on the floor while you’re working at a desk. If you can’t do this, your office chair probably needs to be adjusted so that it’s at the right height. Tucking your feet under the chair puts a lot of pressure on the back of your knees, which can lead to knee pain further down the line.
Legs
Make sure that your desk has enough room underneath it so that your legs aren’t squashed up. If you’re constantly trying to fit your legs into space that isn’t really there, you can get cramp. Take regular breaks to stretch your legs to limit the probability of getting cramp from sitting in the same position and it can also be helpful to move the position of your legs on a fairly regular basis while you’re sitting at the desk. Even something as seemingly innocuous as crossing your legs while you’re working can do more harm that you might think as it can twist your pelvis if you’re sitting in that position for some time.
Posture
Keep an eye on your posture as it can change without you even being aware of it, especially when you’re engrossed in getting work done. Your posture might be fine at the start of the day but as you start to flag in the afternoon, it’s more of an effort to maintain good posture on an unconscious basis. It’s a good idea to take regular breaks so that you can correct your posture.
Ergonomic furniture and accessories are commonly thought of as products that help existing pain. This is a very important factor. However, many people are unaware of preventive medicine through ergonomics. Ergonomic furniture and equipment can actually actively prevent back, neck and other problems from happening. Not only do employees have a more comfortable work environment, they can avoid having bothersome problems further down the road. No one should ever underestimate the importance of ergonomic products. Regular use of these products in the workplace will result in employees being in better health overall.
One reason why ergonomic chairs are so popular is because they provide a comfortable place to sit, even for long periods of time. Eliminating pain and discomfort is a major part of preventive medicine through ergonomics. Since it’s not practical for employees in many offices to get up and stretch a lot, having a comfortable chair helps make things easier. There are other accessories that can be used to eliminate discomfort while sitting. These include footrests that improve blood circulation and adjustable chair arms. Both of these products are very useful for preventing problems with pain or stiffness.
Preventive medicine through ergonomics also addresses the issue of people who may develop hand or wrist problems while typing. People who have to do a lot of typing commonly end up with wrist pain. Keyboard trays that can be adjusted to a more comfortable position are very helpful for regular typists. The keyboards themselves can also be designed to be more flexible for people who need to use different positions while typing. There are also mice or other pointing devices that are designed ergonomically. If a person is able to position his or her hands more conveniently, this will help prevent a lot of needless strain.
Posturite, the UK’s leading provider of ergonomic furniture and accessories for the workplace, has rebuilt its website (www.posturite.co.uk) to give it a cleaner, more modern appearance and make it easier for people to browse, buy goods and find information online.
The new-look site, launched this month, is part of a two-year collaboration with Brighton University’s School of Mathematical and Information Sciences.
The key aims have been to make shopping online even easier and to provide customers with more comprehensive information on Posturite’s products and services.
More straightforward site navigation, useful product filters and an ‘add to shortlist’ feature that allows customers to save products for later purchase are among the many enhancements.
Customers are also able to navigate from the home page to relevant product categories based on areas of particular interest or concern such as back pain, work space or productivity issues.
The product pages themselves have also been greatly enhanced with more detailed information and better viewing galleries. And there are lots of hints and tips to make product selection easier.
Payment has also been made simpler, with a fast and secure one-page checkout and a full range of credit and debit card facilities handled by Sagepay.
Posturite CEO Ian Fletcher-Price said: “In recent years there has been a rising need to focus on user experience in website design. We are confident that our new website will satisfy this need and provide an easy to use, one-stop shop for our customers.
“Everything is now in place to allow customers to find the information and products they need speedily and easily. Even if they don’t know much about ergonomics, there’s enough advice and guidance on the site to give them a very good idea of the sort of products they might need to solve a particular problem.”
For the first time, Safety & Health Expo will feature a dedicated seminar theatre exploring the topics surrounding health in the workplace when it takes place at the Birmingham NEC from 17-19 May 2011. The Occupational Health Theatre, sponsored by Posturite and Colbrook Bosson Saunders, will focus on key areas including stress management, ergonomics, behavioural safety, equality and diversity in order to promote a better quality of life in the workplace.
“Monitoring and ultimately improving health in workplace has never been so important,” says Adrian Newton, Portfolio Director of Safety & Health Expo. “There is so much that can be done to improve the quality of life in a workplace and through the dedicated seminar programme we will be informing and educating health & safety professionals about the best practice solutions they can put in place which will have immediate results and cam ultimately improve productivity.”
Display screen equipment
Under health and safety law, you must ensure that monitors, keyboards, non-keyboard input devices, furniture and the working environment meet certain minimum requirements and are easy to adjust to the individual’s needs.
Computer screens
In most cases computer screens should:
- tilt and swivel to suit the needs of the user
- be adjusted to the correct height for the user – either using a separate base or an adjustable table
- show clear characters with adequate spacing
- show a stable image with no flickering
- have easily adjustable brightness and contrast controls
- be free of reflected glare
- have a screen size suitable for its intended use