SAFETY IN THE SAFETY IN THE COMPUTER LABCOMPUTER LABSAFETY IN THE SAFETY IN THE COMPUTER LABCOMPUTER LAB
Ms. Birdwell
Technology Instructor
Did you know????
• Kids spend an average of 1 – 3 hours a day on the computer!
Did you know????• According to the 2000 U.S. Census
– 51% of household have computers in the home!
That was 8 years ago – what do you think that
number is now?
Because of our increased computer usage – it is
important to understand that medical problems can result
from using the computer incorrectly.
There are three main medical conditions that
can occur from improper computer usage.
• Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS)• Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)• Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)
What is Computer Vision Syndrome
(CVS)?
• CVS is a group of eye and vision problems that are a result of prolonged use on a computer.
What causes CVS?• Poor lighting• Glare on computer screen• Improper viewing distances• Poor seating posture• A combination of all the above
What are the symptoms of CVS?
• Eyestrain• Headaches• Blurry Vision• Dry Eyes• Neck and shoulder pain
Good News!• Most CVS symptoms are only
temporary and will go away after stopping computer use.
What is Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)?
• RSI is a syndrome that affects muscles, tendons, and nerves in the hands, arms, and upper back.
What causes RSI?
• RSI is caused when the these areas are kept tense for very long periods of time, due to poor posture and/or repetitive motions.
What are the main types of RSI?
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome• Tendinitis
What are the warning signs of RSI?
• Pain or soreness in the neck, shoulders, upper back, hands, or wrists.
• Tingling, numbness, coldness or loss of sensation.
• Loss of grip strength.
Treatment for RSI
• Treatment usually requires significant changes to work habits and therapy treatment.
What is Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)?
• MSD’s affect the body’s muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
What causes MSD?
• MDS’s take a long time to develop and are caused by the type of work or the work environment.
What are the signs of MSD?
• Signs are usually minor aches and pains.
Treatment for MSD• See a doctor for the appropriate
treatment
How can I protect myself?
• Good posture – keep feet flat on the floor, upper back should be naturally rounded, shoulder and arms relaxed at your side
How can I protect myself?
• Monitor – centered in front of you – eyes should be level about 20% from top of screen.
• Keyboard – positioned so you can reach the keys with elbows at your side.
• Mouse – at one side without having to reach or hunch.
How can I protect myself?
• Use proper typing technique– Keep your wrists straight– Let your hands float– Don’t strain your fingers
References• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Repetitive_strain_injury• http://www.stat.rice.edu/~cscott/
rsi.html• http://www.census.gov/prod/
2001pubs/p23-207.pdf
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