Tag Archives: take breaks

Most of the jobs nowadays require the use of computers. Some professionals even stay and work in front of the computer for 8-12 hours daily. Working hard does not mean compromising your health. Here are some of the things that you can do to protect your eyes from working at the computer for long hours.

1. Adjust the Lighting of Computers

Use of proper lighting may help eye strain. When we are working in front of a computer for so many hours daily, we have to make sure to take care of our eyes. Eye strain is caused by excessive bright light, to avoid this, we can change the brightness of our monitor screen. Doing so will help us make our eyes comfortable.

Aside from adjusting the light of our computers to make our eyes feel better. We should also have ambient lighting in our offices. Make sure to eliminate exterior lights and avoid working under overhead fluorescent lights.

2. Upgrade Your Display

Office staff should always protect the health of their employers. If they have an extra budget they should replace the old-tube style monitor with flat-panel LCD. Screens of these monitors usually have an anti-reflective surface and are easier on the eyes of the user.

Flicker of images is one of the major cause of computer eye strain. Which is not an issue with LCD screens. Selecting the highest resolution possible for the screen is the best solution to this problem.

3. Modify Work Station

Another cause of eye strain is the improper posture into the computer when we are working. To prevent this, we can adjust our workstation and chair to the correct height.

If our work requires looking at the printed page and then on the screen, then we should place the written pages on the copy stand. Light the copy stand properly and is adjacent to the monitor. We can also use desk lamp to see this written pages clearly.

4. Keep Distance from Monitor

Always remember to keep distance at the monitor for it is really dangerous to our eyes. We should have a distance of at least 50-100cm from eyes. Offices should also purchase and use ergonomic furniture to enable their employers to position their computer 20-24 inches from the eyes. The most comfortable and ideal position of our head and neck to the screen should be about 10-15 degrees below our eyes.

5. Consider Computer Eyewear (Use anti-radiation glasses)

Protect our eyes from too much light of the computer. The use of anti-radiation glasses will help a lot. The company may not afford it but if we have an extra budget, maybe we can buy it for ourselves. There are also normal computer glasses that we can wear. We can consult our eye care professional regarding this matter. These glasses will surely bring greatest comfort to our eyes.

6. Blink More Often

When we are working in front of the computer, we should blink more often while we stare at the monitor. It is very important because blinking moistens our eyes to prevent dryness and irritation. To help us reduce the risk of dry eyes, we should blink 10 times every 20minutes.

7. Take Frequent Breaks

Rest our eyes for 10-15 minutes and avoid looking at the monitor for a long time. We can take a rest for our eyes by closing our eyelids for a moment. We can also look at the distant objects for 10 seconds to relax our eyes.

We should also make a supplementary of five-minute breaks throughout our work day. This will not only prevent the risk of our computer vision syndrome but can also help us avoid neck, back, and shoulder pain. When we are doing these five-minute breaks, we can stand, and do some stretching.

8. Exercise Your Eyes

We can also use our mini breaks to exercise our eyes. Having an exercise for eyes help us avoid focusing fatigue that leads to eye strain. Looking far away from our computer monitors relaxes our focusing muscles inside the eye. Here are some exercises that we can do for our eyes:

Exercise #1: Move eyes in circle from left to right. This should be 6-8 times and then repeat the process to the opposite side.

Exercise #2: Move eyes from top to bottom for 10-12 times carefully. We have to do it slowly to avoid hurting our eye muscle.

Exercise #3: Move eyes from left to right horizontally for 10-12 times. And do it opposite direction.

About the Author:

Dawn Atkins loves reading, writing and traveling. It is her dream to set foot on Paris. She is currently a junior college student who works as a part-time contributor for bestessay.com. Dawn’s goal in life is to have her own business someday.

General Safety Issues

PACK YOUR BAGS: ROAD TRIP TIPS! (GUEST POST)

August 25, 2013 pat brownlee

It’s almost the end of summer, and people are itching to get out there for their last chance at summer freedom. What better way to enjoy your hot summer days by packing up the car, and going on that road trip?

The average age of the car on the road is about 11 years old—and that’s pretty old for a car. By taking the necessary steps and precautions before hitting the road, you’ll be all set for that last summer adventure!

Before taking off, it’s always good to check in on that car insurance. Trust worthy companies like Charlotte Insurance Agency can really help you out on your planning, and can let you know of their policies when going out on the open road. Never hurts to be better safe than sorry, and to know exactly what your plan holds.

Here are some quick safety tips to look over before getting everyone in that car:

Be Rested

This should go without saying. There is nothing worse than wanting to sleep when you can’t—especially if you’re behind the wheel. Every year there is an average number of 40,000 people injured or hurt after falling asleep at the wheel. Don’t be in this statistic! Get your 7-8 hours of sleep the night before. If you ever feel tired, pull over and take a rest, or switch out with someone.

Grab the Safety Net

It doesn’t hurt to pack the essentials needed in case of the possible worst happening. Pack extra bottles of water, blankets, flashlights and batteries, jumper cables, and tools needed to change a tire. Bring a phone charger so you’ll always have your phone ready to go.

Check Your Ride

Of course, you’re going to need to check all components of your car before getting to the road. Check the oil, fill with gas, and check the tires. Take a look at your windshield wipers, and your headlights. If it’s time to upgrade, better do it now.

Storing Your Belongings

When packing up your car, make sure to stow the heavy items at the bottom of the pile. Don’t let unexpected suitcases fly through the car at a sudden stop.

Plan Ahead

Have a set route of what you’re planning on taking before hitting the road. Having a clear vision of where you’ll be going will have you less anxious, and less prone to getting into any accidents.

Take Rest Stops

It’s okay to pass up on a couple of them—but it’s good for you to get out and stretch; especially if you’re driving for a longer amount of time. Make sure to pick rest stops with plenty of light and lots of traffic if you’re going to be stopping at night.

Enjoy the Ride

After checking all of these items off of your list, take a breather, and enjoy the open road in front of you! Be alert, and be happy. Enjoy your vacation!

Written by: Austin Crowley

Thanks so much, Austin. There will be many travelers on the road for upcoming Labor Day weekend in the U.S. We’d like to add one thing to your list: be sure your family or friends know your route and when you are expected home. pb

General Safety Issues, Health Issues, Weather Protection

Be Safe in the Sun – Advice for Construction Workers (Guest Post)

August 20, 2013 Doug

Claire McEvoy is a writer for PJ Brown, a Plant Hire & Grab Hire Company based in West Sussex.

General Safety Issues, Health Issues

HOW TO STAY HEALTHY IN THE WORKPLACE (GUEST POST)

July 17, 2013 pat brownlee

It is a well-acknowledged fact that one’s workplace is his health’s worst enemy. When we are single-mindedly focused on our work in the closed confines of an office, our body bears the brunt of it. As a result:

Muscles become sore, joints begin to ache.
Weight gain is practically inevitable.
Eyesight weakens.
Stress levels are on an all time high.

Since the body has to suffer due to your commitment to work, why not do a little something to lighten its burden? Here are some tips on how you can keep your body fit and healthy, even while at the workplace.

Don’t Be a Vegetable

If you simply sit on your desk all day, your sedentary lifestyle will eventually impact your weight. In fact, a USA-based study by CareerBuilder found that 41% of professional employees claim that they gained weight at their present job.

Even without statistical evidence, it would not be hard to believe that bad working habits cause weight gain. So, what can you do to avoid this, while in the office? Make the following small changes:

Do not simply sit at your worktable. Move around. For instance, walk about when reading a file. Stand, if nothing else.
Whenever possible, get up and contact a colleague personally instead of using the phone.
Take the stairs as frequently as possible.
If you are really motivated, keep some simple exercise equipment underneath your desk – dumbbells or restriction bands perhaps. If your office has a gym, well, nothing like it; go at least thrice a week.
Eat breakfast daily and carry your own lunch to office.

Take a Break

If you keep working non-stop, not only does your mind and body, but even work output suffers. Thus, incorporate the following habits into your schedule:

Every one hour, get up and stretch before resuming work.
Never have lunch at your desk. Your lunch break is the time to give rest to your mind and relax your body as well.

Surf the Net Quick

As per a recent research by the National University of Singapore, web-browsing rejuvenates exhausted employees and enhances their productivity levels. Thus, each time, after your hourly stretch, surf the internet for a quick five minutes.

Do whatever you like – read some news, watch a video or two or visit your favorite blog. However, make sure whatever you do takes only a few minutes and does not distract you from your work.

No Smoking

Most people take to smoking to beat the stress in office. Their ‘breaks’ from work comprise of smoking outside the building. If you’re doing this too, you are just inviting trouble.

Remember, it is never too late to quit. Even if you’ve been smoking for years, motivation, and a suitable smoking cessation aid can help you kick the butt for good. There are several options to help quit smoking:

Nicotine Replacement Therapy which may gradually wean you off cigarettes.
E-Cigarettes, which may be quite helpful for chain-smokers since they re-create the experience of smoking and thus reduce cravings.
Counseling and medication, for which you will have to consult certified professionals.

About The Author: Vani Chugh is a professional blogger with a special interest in the technology and health niche. She currently writes blogs and guest posts for ecigarettereviewed. Please click here to visit the website.

Links To Studies Used:

General Safety Issues

STAY HOME WITH THE SNIFFLES: STUDY SHOWS PAID SICK LEAVE REDUCES WORKPLACE INJURIES (GUEST POST)

January 16, 2013 pat brownlee

Workers brave workplace hazards every day, hoping that they won’t reset the “number of days without a workplace accident” sign. It may seem obvious, but staying home when ill drastically reduces the chance of nonfatal occupational injuries.

Workers with paid sick leave were 28 percent less-likely to be injured at the workplace in comparison to workers without PTO days, a study conducted by the American Journal of Public Health concluded. Data on approximately 38,000 adults working in the private sector who participated in the National Health Interview Survey was used.

The financial pressure drives employees to work even though ill. “If fewer people work while they are sick,” study researcher Abay Asfaw, Ph.D., said in a statement, “this could lead to safer operations and fewer injuries in the workplace.” Depending on the job occupation and sector, workplace injury differed. Construction workers were at a 21 percent increased risk without paid sick time off compared with 18 percent for health care personnel.

Another study published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health concluded that coming into work while sick increased the chances of needing to take more sick time off later, according to Rodale News. It may seem that employees will use less time off in the short run, but the sickness compounds or grows worse without necessary rest, resulting in a greater number of work absences over the long run. Ill workers reporting for work more than six times were 53 percent more-likely to be absent for two weeks in the future. Those same workers were also 72 percent more-likely to take two months sick leave in the following year and a half.

Sevenson, an environmental remediation service, practices a stringent Corporate Safety and Health Program to avoid an unnecessary Sevenson Environmental lawsuit along with worker injuries. Employees engaged in hazardous-waste remediation are monitored to ensure that their surroundings aren’t negatively impacting health. Here are some other blue-collar tips to prevent harmful accidents at work.

Break Time

Along with the aforementioned paid-time-off days, taking time off during the day is also of utmost importance. Hours of continuous work inevitably leads to fatigue. To avoid workplace mishaps as a result of fatigue, take a break at least once an hour to give your body and mind brief, restorative rest.

Awareness

Over time, workers become overly comfortable within their workplace environment. Comfort can lead to calamity. Workers’ previously sharp awareness is blunted, even though the level of danger remains the same. Always remain mindful of your environment and acutely focused on all surroundings.

Safety First

From slip-resistant shoes to hazmat suits, workers must equip the proper safety gear to avoid workplace incidents. Ensure that you’re always suited for safety — money spent toward equipment to prevent harm is well worth it in comparison to life-threatening, preventable injuries.

By Stephanie Diaz A former public relations specialist, Stephanie is a blogger who shares tips on saving money and getting ahead in any economy.

Work Safety Blog