Tag Archives: computers
ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AT WORK (GUEST POST)
By Maire Hunter
Every day, the modern office buzzes with thousands of volts of electricity from the computers, lights, fax machines and host of other electrical equipment we use to accomplish the work required. It’s a marvel how quickly we’ve equipped the workplace with technology. But we’ve also created the potential for electrical disaster if not prevented. Working at an office might feel safer than working with heavy equipment like bulldozers, boats or forklifts, but with the amount of electricity moving inches into our walls, it’s important to recognize, prepare for and prevent electrical hazards.
Here are a few crucial reminders when creating an electrically safe office environment.
Don’t Piggyback Power Points
Especially when working at an office where several desks and computers are collected in a single room, it’s tempting to overload power points by using double adaptors. This is extremely dangerous. Doing this, you run the risk of electrical surges that can lead to electrocution or fire. Instead, make common use of power strips, which are safer and prevent power surges.
A Tidy Office Is a Safe Office
Here’s a good rule of thumb: wires should touch walls. When using extension cords or power cords, make sure you run the wire along walls, on the floor. This averts people from tripping over wires that are exposed. And this also reduces the amount of wear the wires are exposed to, like walkways and opening doors, which will prevent any direct exposure to electricity.
Keep Electrical Equipment Updated And Evaluated
Immediately dispose and replace any wires that show signs of wear. You should also frequently check circuit breakers, as this is your primary defense against dangerous power surges. Ballasts limit the amount of electricity lights are exposed to, which is helpful for using power efficiently. But these should be checked and replaced often to ensure that worn ballasts don’t go out when you need lights the most.
Always Turn Off the Power
When working to fix a computer or when replacing a light bulb, it’s important to turn off the power beforehand. A good habit to form is turning off the power whenever you aren’t using a device. That way you reduce the danger of ever forgetting an appliance is live.
Water and Power—Not Even Once
Many accidents involving water and electricity occur in unsuspecting ways. An employee has wet hands while working with an electrical tool, or an electrical device gets plugged in and forgotten when near a faucet or drink. Keep an eye out for any potential exposure. Employees can work together to make sure there’s never a slip-up and that water is always kept far away from any electrical power source. Furthermore, remember that you should never use water to extinguish electrical fires, and should have fire extinguishers on hand for such an event.
By keeping a vigilant eye for potential electrical hazards, you are keeping your co-workers and yourself safe. By reviewing these steps and others with your co-workers, you greatly reduce an accident from ever occurring. Stay safe. Stay aware.
Five Ways Technology is Messing Up Our Sleep (Guest Post)
Sent to us by Hannah Howard –
We all know that getting a good night’s sleep is important, but just how important is it? Well, according to Dr. David F. Dinges of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology and Department of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the first signs of lack of sleep are irritability and moodiness. If the person continues to not get enough rest, they will eventually start to experience apathy, slowed speech and flattened emotional responses, impaired memory, and an inability to be novel or to multitask. If you still do not take notice and get some shut eye, then what comes next can be physically disastrous. As you near the point of falling asleep on your feet, you will experience micro-sleeps of approximately 5 to 10 seconds. Those seconds mean that you can nod off while driving or doing other dangerous activities and drastically increase the risk of getting into an accident and harming yourself or another person.
At this point, you might be wondering what the correlation is between a lack of sleep and technology. Did you know that staring at a brightly lit screen or performing vigorous mental or physical activities an hour before trying to sleep can make it harder to fall asleep, stay asleep, or enter REM sleep, which is the kind of deep sleep that your body needs? Also, your body needs uninterrupted sleep to be fully rested and refreshed. Recently, a poll taken by the National Sleep Foundation found the following uses of technology that can impact sleep:
1. Television
Watching television an hour or less before bedtime means that not only are you staring at a brightly lit screen, but chances are you are watching something that gets your adrenaline pumping, making it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. Here are the people guilty of this:
- 67% of Baby Boomers (age 46-64)
- 63% of Generation X (age 30-45)
- 49% of Generation Y (age 19-29)
- 50% Generation Z (age 13-18)
2. Computer
Playing games, reading emails, and even doing work on your laptop, desktop, or iPad is a recipe for sleeplessness. If you have to read on your electronic device then try turning the screen down as low as possible to reduce backlight exposure. Darkness signals to your brain that it is time to wind down.
- 61% of people use a computer an hour before bed at least a few nights a week
- 47% of Generation Y and 55% of Generation Z use the computer every night
3. Video Games
Playing a video game is a great way to have fun, but not such a great way to get a good night’s sleep. Who plays games just before bed? You might be surprised:
- 12% of Baby Boomers
- 15% of Generation X
- 36% of Generation Y
4. Cell Phone
We all love to text our friends and family good night, but doing so right before bed time means more time spent staring at a tiny, glowing screen. Who is guilty of this sleep faux pas?
- Only 5% of Baby Boomers
- 15% of Generation X
- 42% of Generation Y
- 56% of Generation Z
5. Waked Up
Like I said before, getting a full night’s rest without interruption is the key to waking up rested and refreshed. However, many of us are waked up several times a week by phone calls, texts, email, or notifications. I think it is time to put the phone on silent for these groups:
- 20% of Generation Y and 18% of Generation Z are waked at least a few nights a week
These statistics shed new light on our sleeping and technology habits. What bad habits are you guilty of that mess with your sleep? Are you getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep every night, uninterrupted? What can you change to help your body get the sleep it needs?
Thank you, Hannah, for pointing out many of the ways that we could simplify our lives and get our needed rest by following your advice. Pat
EASY WAYS TO REDUCE INJURIES IN AN OFFICE SETTING (GUEST POST)
Sent to us by Brandon Allred.
Work injuries that are related to computers are quickly becoming the most reported incidences on the job. This is because using computers in the work place are so very common nowadays in almost every area of the world. Since this is fact we have to take into consideration how these injuries occur and how to prevent them as much as possible. New standards set forth by occupational safety committees recommend safer ways to use computers and other such devices that will lessen the effects that cause the injuries in the first place. These tips are important to follow because using computers for a large amount of your workday can cause back problems, neck problems, and hand/wrist problems such as carpel tunnel syndrome. If you are someone who works heavily on computers at work (or even at home) keep reading to find out how you can boost your chances of sustaining injuries.
Tip 1:
The chair that you sit in can make all the difference. It can cause or prevent damage. Your chair should be designed ergonomically so that it fits your back (and your entire body) in a way that is more natural and comfortable, thus preventing strain in any one area and preventing injuries.
Tip 2:
Even with ergonomic chairs your body still needs a change of position every now and then. At least once per hour, get up and move around for a couple of minutes in order to get your blood flowing and your muscles moving.
Tip 3:
Many workplaces that require you to be sitting at desks or computers for long periods of time will require that you have a morning and afternoon exercise session. If your workplace does not have this then suggest it yourself. If the suggestion is not taken then do the small exercises on your own to help protect your body.
Tip 4:
If you are typing for long periods of time, move your wrists often. This will help relieve them from the stress being put on them from the mouse and keyboard which can cause carpel tunnel syndrome. This is a painful condition that may render you unable to work at the computer anymore and require surgery to fix.
Tip 5:
Use an ergonomic keyboard that tilts at a good angle to relieve any pressure put on your wrists and hands. Using one at home is also a smart idea and they can be purchased at most any store that sells computer items.
Tip 6:
Adjust the position that you are sitting in if you feel any strain or pain. Your shoulder, hands, wrists and arms should feel totally relaxed. If they are not then you are not sitting properly to prevent injury.
Tip 7:
Your eyes should also be protected while working at the computer. Make sure that the screen is tilted at an angle where you do not have to strain your neck or eyes to see it. Also make sure that the screen is not too light or too dark as this will strain your eyes as well.
Tip 8:
Your eyes should also be rested frequently throughout the workday. Staring at a screen all day can take a toll no matter how well your position is. Take several breaks by focusing your eyes on objects in the distance. This only takes a few seconds to be helpful so do it frequently.
Tip 9:
Avoid tensing your body’s muscles while working at the computer as this strain can cause all types of work related injuries.
Tip 10:
Have your computer fitted with a glare screen to keep your eyes as safe as possible and avoid further strain.
All of the above can make a real difference in workplace comfort and lessen the chances of becoming injured. Keep these tips in mind if you are often on your home computer as well.
Protective Technologies provides advanced http://www.pti-world.com/walk-through-detector security products. Please check out the link for more information.
An extra note: motivational posters placed in the office also offer reminders that go well with the above tips. Pat
REPETITIVE STRESS INJURIES: KIDS AND ELECTRONICS (GUEST POST)
Today’s post features two articles sent by Paul Taylor of http://www.babysittingjobs.com
We know you will find them very interesting. pb
The emphasis on the dangers of excessive screen-time for kids has been steadily rising, as childhood obesity and related health problems have become more common. Type II diabetes, once referred to as “adult-onset diabetes,” is being diagnosed with alarming frequency in children; as kids spend less time engaged in physically active play and more time in front of televisions, computers and gaming systems, the risks increase. However, diabetes and blood pressure problems aren’t the only concern for sedentary kids; repetitive stress injuries like tendonitis and carpal tunnel syndrome are also on the rise.
Causes of Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) in Kids
RSIs were similarly considered “adult” afflictions, with the vast majority of repetitive stress diagnoses in children restricted to sports-related conditions such as epicondylitis, or “tennis elbow.” Though RSIs are still most commonly diagnosed in adults, the number of kids and teens with these injuries is nonetheless rising. While overuse due to strenuous athletic practice or musical instrument rehearsal can cause repetitive stress injuries in young people, heavy video gaming, computer use and even excessive texting are also listed among the common causes. Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and cervical radiculopathy are all conditions that can result from repetitive stress injuries; though the percentage of kids diagnosed with these conditions is still relatively small, the fact that they are increasing among youngsters at all does indicate that proper preventative measures and good usage habits should be taught from an early age.
Proper Ergonomics is Key
The most effective method of preventing repetitive stress injuries as a result of heavy computer usage is to ensure that furniture and equipment are properly adjusted to your child’s size; desks, chairs and equipment intended for use by adults are rarely ergonomically sound for kids. In order to help their children avoid developing muscle strain and soreness, and to reduce the risk of RSIs, parents should make an effort to ensure that the top of their child’s head aligns with the top of the monitor. His back should be touching the back of his chair while he’s in a seated position. Slouching or tensing his shoulders places unnecessary and potentially harmful stress on the spine, so kids should be encouraged to practice good posture. Repetitive stress injuries of the wrists and fingers related to computer use are most commonly the result of improper keyboard placement; wrist supports can help prevent some of these injuries, as can coaching on correct typing methods. The most important preventative measure, however, is for kids to take breaks every thirty minutes to stretch and walk around.
Intermittent Breaks
Video game controllers can also cause repetitive stress injuries, especially in kids that spend several hours a day using them. Taking regular breaks and avoiding prolonged periods of uninterrupted gaming are not only a vital part of preventing repetitive stress injuries, but also encouraged to boost physical activity and prevent health conditions linked to poor exercise habits and a sedentary lifestyle. Smart phones, tablets and handheld gaming devices that encourage kids to look down for long periods of time also increase the risk of neck and back pain, in addition to the repetitive use of fingers and thumbs to control the devices. Kids’ use of all electronic devices should be carefully monitored by parents in order to ensure that breaks are being taken in a timely manner and proper posture is maintained. Armed with the necessary knowledge, parents can instill good electronics-usage habits in their kids, along with healthy eating habits and other valuable life skills.
It might be wise, as stressed in this article, to limit the amount of time that kids (especially younger ones) spend on their computer or games. It’s rare to see a teenager without his/her eyes on that cell phone, texting. Outdoor activities can be helpful to balance exercise with sitting all the time. pb