A company is setting up a new office and wants to... | Information and Communication Technology (9-1) 0983 | Paper 1 Mock 21 | Theory

Question 1 Report

A company is setting up a new office and wants to ensure employees are protected from health problems caused by prolonged use of ICT equipment.

(a) Complete the table by identifying the health risk and a preventive measure for each piece of equipment. [6]

(b) State two legal responsibilities an employer has regarding the health and safety of employees who use ICT equipment. [2]

Answer

(a)

Equipment	Health risk	Preventive measure
Monitor/screen	Eye strain, fatigue and headaches from prolonged screen viewing. The eyes are forced to focus on a bright display at a fixed distance, causing the eye muscles to tire. [1]	Use an anti-glare screen filter to reduce reflections, and position the monitor at arm's length with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level. [1]
Keyboard	Repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the wrists and fingers from repetitive typing motions. The constant, rapid movements of the fingers and wrists strain the tendons and nerves. [1]	Use an ergonomic keyboard with a wrist rest, and ensure the keyboard is positioned at a comfortable height so the wrists remain straight while typing. [1]
Chair	Back and neck pain from poor posture while sitting for long periods. An unsuitable chair fails to support the natural curve of the spine, leading to muscle strain. [1]	Provide fully adjustable chairs with lumbar support, height adjustment and armrests so employees can maintain correct posture. [1]

(b) Two legal responsibilities of employers regarding the health and safety of ICT users:

Provide appropriate equipment such as adjustable chairs, footrests and screen filters to reduce the risk of health problems. [1]
Ensure employees take regular breaks from continuous screen-based work to reduce the risk of eye strain and RSI. [1]

Answer Details

(a)

Equipment	Health risk	Preventive measure
Monitor/screen	Eye strain, fatigue and headaches from prolonged screen viewing. The eyes are forced to focus on a bright display at a fixed distance, causing the eye muscles to tire. [1]	Use an anti-glare screen filter to reduce reflections, and position the monitor at arm's length with the top of the screen at or slightly below eye level. [1]
Keyboard	Repetitive strain injury (RSI) in the wrists and fingers from repetitive typing motions. The constant, rapid movements of the fingers and wrists strain the tendons and nerves. [1]	Use an ergonomic keyboard with a wrist rest, and ensure the keyboard is positioned at a comfortable height so the wrists remain straight while typing. [1]
Chair	Back and neck pain from poor posture while sitting for long periods. An unsuitable chair fails to support the natural curve of the spine, leading to muscle strain. [1]	Provide fully adjustable chairs with lumbar support, height adjustment and armrests so employees can maintain correct posture. [1]

(b) Two legal responsibilities of employers regarding the health and safety of ICT users:

Provide appropriate equipment such as adjustable chairs, footrests and screen filters to reduce the risk of health problems. [1]
Ensure employees take regular breaks from continuous screen-based work to reduce the risk of eye strain and RSI. [1]

A company is setting up a new office and wants to ensure employees are protected from health problems caused by prolonged use of ICT equipment. (a) Complete...