Formación en el puesto de Trabajo.

1. RISKS AT THE WORKPLACE IN
OFFICES WITH DATA DISPLAY
SCREENS

2. PREVENTING RISKS IN OFFICES

3. PREVENTING RISKS IN OFFICES
1. Basic concepts
2. Definition of Ergonomics
3. Objetives of Ergonomics
4. Description of the main risks associated
with using data display screens
5. Risks at the workplace

4. 1. BASIC CONCEPTS
• Prevention of occupational hazards: a set of
measures that are planned or carried out for
every stage of work at a company which are
designed to prevent or diminish work-related
risks of injury.

5. 1. BASIC CONCEPTS
• Health: a state of complete physical, psychological
and social well-being.
• Work conditions: any factors that may significantly
enhance potential risks for workers’ safety and
health.
 Workplace: premises, facilities, equipment.
 Work environment: physical, chemical and biological
factors.
 What a job involves: tasks and organization.

6. 2. DEFINITION OF ERGONOMICS
• Set of technologies designed to adapt work
conditions to a person’s needs.
• Spanish Association of Ergonomics:
"Applied multidisciplinary science whose
purpose is to adapt artificial products, systems
and environments to a user’s characteristics,
limitations and needs in order to optimize
their efficiency, safety and comfort ".

7. 3. OBJECTIVE OF ERGONOMICS
Article 15 of the Spanish Occupational Hazard
Prevention Law (beginning of the preventive action):
To Adapt the work to the person, especially regarding the
conception of the workplace itself, as well as the choice of
equipment, work procedures and production methods, with
the specific aim of reducing monotonous, repetitive work
and lessening its effects on the worker’s health.

8. 4. DESCRIPTION OF THE MAIN RISKS
ASSOCIATED WITH USING DATA DISPLAY
SCREENS
4.1. RISKS RELATED TO PHYSICAL STRAIN
4.2. RISKS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS
4.3. RISKS RELATED TO PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES
4.4. MAIN ERGONOMIC PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OFFICE
WORK

9. Musculoskeletal problems resulting from office work.
Caused by the following factors:
• Restricted mobility associated with sedentary work.
• Poor posture of the back (lack of back support or
positions in which the back is too bent over), of the head
and neck (bending or twisting the neck when typing or
looking at a screen) and of the arms and wrists (lack of
support for arms and/or wrists while typing or ulnar
curvature of the hands).
4.1. RISKS RELATED TO PHYSICAL STRAIN

10. Most frequent incorrect postures in
office work
Lack of support for
wrists and forearms
Lack of back
support
Turned head
Extending
and twisting
the wrist
while typing.
Raised shoulders
due to the chair
being set too low
for the height of
the desk

11. Poor posture
+
Over long periods of time
=
Static muscle effort
=
Slight contractions, most commonly sustained in the
back, neck and/or shoulders.
These kinds of minor strains are enough to cause fatigue
and muscle pains, especially in people who lead a
sedentary lifestyle with little exercise.

13. 4.2. RISKS RELATED TO ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
The environmental conditions that have the most significant
impact on office work are: lighting, air conditioning and
noise.
Lighting
Office work generally involves reading, both printed
documents and texts on a computer screen, which requires
a significant visual effort. Therefore, lighting conditions are
very important to prevent optical discomfort and/or
disorders.

14. Lighting
A
B
Reflections
Glare

15. • The most frequent problems in today´s offices are:
– Reflections on computer screens (previous figure A) and
glare (previous figure B) associated with the presence of
direct light sources, both natural (windows) and artificial.
– Another common problem is a work environment with
insufficient lighting. The best solution is to light the whole
room evenly with a diffused, yet sufficiently bright, light
and use other sources of additional lighting wherever
necessary.

16. Air conditioning
• In most offices, air conditioning is now the
preferred system to regulate temperatures in
both summer and winter.
• The ideal level of heat or cold is often a cause
for dispute, especially in shared facilities with
a central air conditioning system.

17. Air conditioning
• This problem is particularly common in
summer, when people who work under an air
vent are bothered by the unpleasant jet of
cold air (which can even result in colds or neck
pains), whereas people who work far from air
vents or near walls or windows exposed to a
lot of sunlight feel very hot.

18. Noise
• Offices are places where multiple noise sources
converge, such as printers, phones, photocopiers,
equipment fans and people’s voices. The main
problems associated with this are disturbing
interferences which hinder the workers’ ability to
focus on their work and/or communicate with
other people.

19. Noise
• The noise source that affects workers the most is
precisely conversations taking place around them.
A very effective solution is to use sound absorbing
materials in ceilings and floors as well as separating
individual workplaces with partitions.

20. • Situations involving mental overload or underload.
• Repetitive tasks that can induce a sense of
monotony and dissatisfaction.
• Inappropriate time pressure.
• Isolating circumstances that prevent social
interaction at the workplace.
4.3. RISKS RELATED TO PSYCHOSOCIAL
ISSUES

22. 4.4. MAIN ERGONOMIC PROBLEMS
ASSOCIATED WITH OFFICE WORK

23. TYPES OF RISKS CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WORKPLACE FACTORS AT WORK POTENTIAL DAMAGE TO
HEALTH
PHYSICAL STRAIN
•Restricted mobility
• Poor posture
• Work space
• Seat
• Desk
• Computer placement
• Discomfort
• Musculoskeletal pains and
injuries (shoulders, neck,
back, hands and wrists)
• Circulatory disorders
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
•Lighting
• Air conditioning
• Noise
•Reflections and glares. Bad
lighting.
• Inadequately adjusted
temperature - humidity.
• Excessive speed of cold air.
• Unremoved dirt in the
system.
• Noise sources. Insufficient
soundproofing.
• Visual disorders
• Visual fatigue
• Discomfort
• Ocular disorders
• Respiratory disorders
• Concentration difficulty
• Altered behaviour
PSYCHOSOCIAL ISSUES
•Type of task
• Organization of the work
• HR policies
• Computer programs
• Work procedures
• Type of organization
• Dissatisfaction
• Physical disorders
• Sleep disorders
• Irritability, nervousness,
anxiety, fatigue, lack of
concentration.
• Diminished performance

24. TWELVE COMMON ERGONOMIC
PROBLEMS IN OFFICES

25. 1. My desk height feels uncomfortable
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Incorrect adjustment of the
seat height
• The desk is too high
• The desk is too low
• Raise or lower your chair as
needed. If after raising it to
the right height your feet are
not fully resting on the
ground, request a footrest.
• If your desk is over 76 cm
high, request a lower one.
• If your desk is under 70.5 cm
high, request a higher one.

26. 2. I cannot rest my feet properly on the
ground
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• The seat is too large for the
worker’s height
• Use a footrest
• Consider replacing your
chair with one more suited to
your physical needs.

27. 3. I tend to sit on the edge of my seat
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
•The chair is too deep for the
worker’s body build
• Use a footrest
• If the chair allows for depth
adjustment, reduce the depth.

28. 4. I cannot get close enough to my desk
because my armrests get in the way
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• The armrests are too long
and/or high
• Lower your chair slightly
until the armrests fit below
the desk. Verify that this
height is still acceptable
compared to your desk height.
• If your armrests are
adjustable, lower them.

29. 5. The back of my chair feels
uncomfortable
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Misadjusted height and/or
tilt of the back of the chair
• Adjust the height and/or tilt
of the back of your chair until
it feels comfortable to you.

30. 6. When I unlock the back of my chair, it
feels too loose or it pushes me too far
forward
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Misadjusted tilt tension of
the back of the chair
•Tighten or loosen the tilt
tension of the back of your
chair (the knob is usually
under the seat, in the front)

31. 7. I don’t have enough room on my desk
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• The desk is too small
• Inefficient use of desktop
space
• If your desktop is smaller
than 160 x 80 cm, request a
larger desk.
• Rearrange your work tools.
Clear up your work surface by
removing unnecessary items
and paperwork that you are
not using.

32. 8. I have to turn sideways to work on my
computer
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Incorrect computer
placement
• Place the computer on an area of your
desk opposite you. If your desk has
mobile drawers under it, remove them
to increase your usable work space. If
the drawers are fixed, move the
computer to face you.
• If your desktop is too small, you can
improve the utilization of your work
space with a revolving monitor stand.
This will allow you to turn the computer
screen towards you when you need it,
and turn it away when you’re doing
something else.

33. 9. I have nowhere to lean my wrists
or forearms while I’m typing
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Incorrect computer
placement
• Move your monitor as far back
as possible. If your desk is too
narrow, request a mobile stand
for your screen. Leave at least 10
cm between your keyboard and
the front edge of your desk.

34. 10. I’m sitting too close to my screen
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Incorrect computer
placement
• Move your monitor as far back
as possible. If your desk is too
narrow, request a mobile stand
for your screen. The screen must
be at least 55 cm away from your
eyes.

35. 11. My screen is too high
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Incorrect computer
placement
•If your monitor is placed on the
CPU, remove it and place
somewhere else (on the floor
beside your desk or on an area of
your desk where it won’t be in
your way).

36. 12. I have light sources that cause
reflections and/or glares
POSSIBLE REASONS SUGGESTED SOLUTION
• Incorrect desk placement
• Direct lights
•Request that blinds be placed on
nearby windows or diffusion
shades over ceiling lights.
• If possible, change the
placement of your desk.
• Try moving your computer to
another area of your desk, as long
as it doesn’t force you to work in
an uncomfortable position.

37. Mouse/external devices
close to keyboard
Upper edge of
monitor at eye
level or slightly
lower
Straight
head/neck and
relaxed
shoulders
Upper arms and
forearms at a 90º
angle or slightly
wider
Straight line from
forearm to wrist to
hand
Elbows next to
torso
Back and thighs at a
90º angle or slightly
wider
Feet resting on
the ground or on
a footrest
Space between seat edge and knees
Thighs and shins at a 90º angle
or slightly wider

38. RISKS AT THE WORKPLACE

39. FALLS AT THE SAME LEVEL
* Keep walkways and access routes clear of obstacles.
* Safely lay out and secure electrical cables by running them
through pipes and / or using cable organizers to prevent
people accidentally pulling or tripping over them.
* Pay attention to wet floors, stairs, polished surfaces ... The
cleaning/maintenance company must put up a “wet
surface” sign after cleaning.
* To prevent accidental knocks, trips and falls, it is essential
that you maintain order and cleanliness in your workplace.
Everything in its place and a place for everything.

40. KNOCKS AND BRUISES
 Encourage good housekeeping in the work area and
maintain walkways and aisles clear of obstacles.
 Keep the work area with enough room for mobility.
 Pay special attention to operations being performed,
especially when using sharp objects.
 Drawers and furniture doors must remain closed when
not in use. Drawers should have stops to prevent
accidental departure of the guide.
 When opening and closing doors, make sure that there
are no users or workers in the area of ​​the door to prevent
knocks and / or entrapment.

41. ELECTRICAL CONTACT
Every electrical installation contains electrical
voltage unless otherwise proven.
Ensure that equipment cables remain
positioned so that they can not be crushed,
damaged or placed under traction.
Do not handle regulatory connections or try to
repair electrical equipment. Report any faults
you encounter in electrical installations or
equipment.
Electrical maintenance and repairs will only be
performed by authorized personnel.
Do not overload electrical outlets by plugging
too many computers into multi-outlet sockets.

42. TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
• Always comply with road safety and traffic rules, such as
restrictions, safety distances, prohibitions, signaling
maneuvers etc. Make sure that all drivers hold
appropriate driving licenses.
• Ensure that vehicles are in good condition: check-ups,
brakes, lights, wheels, regulatory tune-ups…
• Drive at the appropriate speed according to road and
weather conditions.
• Do not use mobile phones while driving, unless they are
equipped with hands-free devices, and avoid other
actions that may divert your attention from driving.

43. TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
• Read and follow instructions for the use of medicines,
especially if the recommendation is not to drive when
taking a medication.
• Plan routes and leave well in advance to avoid speeding.
• Avoid heavy meals if you plan to make a long journey.
• Stop for a break after two hours of continuous driving.
• Check that your vehicle contains at least the most
necessary accessories (reflective vests and triangles). It is
also recommended to have a fire extinguisher and a
flashlight in the vehicle.

44. TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
• Do not drive more than 8 hours a day and stop every 2
hours or every 200 km.
• During trips by train, plane etc. follow instructions given
by the staff in charge and comply with established rules
and procedures.
• Be particularly cautious when walking in car parks and
when working outdoors.
• You should always use areas designed for this purpose
and avoid walking on roads and carriageways if possible.

45. WE ARE ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR
OUR SAFETY AND HEALTH !