The Hazards of Being a Nerd… Graham Pengelly`
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
The Hazards of Being a Nerd…
Graham Pengelly`
–noun Slang.
1.a stupid, irritating, ineffectual, or unattractive person.
2.an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a non-social hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
–noun
1. A chance; an accident. 2. A chance of being injured or
harmed; danger: Space travel is full of hazards.
3. A possible source of danger: a fire hazard.
4. Games A dice game similar to craps.
5. Sports An obstacle, such as a sand trap, found on a golf course.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Eye Strain
• Visual fatigue • Blurred or double vision • Burning and watering eyes • Headaches and frequent changes in
prescription glasses
Prevention
• Avoid glare on monitors from windows, ceiling lights etc
• Lower monitor contrast and brightness• Keep your monitor as far away as possible
(25in)• Avoid prolonged focus on the same thing• Adjust the monitor to a comfortable height. • Avoid old flickering monitors• Choose a monitor that allows height
adjustment
Musculoskeletal Problems
• Repetitive Strain Injury• Back and neck pain and discomfort • Tension stress headaches and related
ailments
Repetitive Strain Injury
• Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
• Epicondylitis (tennis / golfer’s elbow)
• Bursitis *• Ganglion Cyst• Carpal Tunnel
Syndrome*• Peritendinitis• Cervical Spondylosis
• Rotator Cuff Syndrome• Cramp of the Hand
(Writers’ Cramp) *• Tendinitis• Cubital Tunnel Syndrome• Tenosynovitis *• De Quervain’s Syndrome• Trigger Finger / Thumb• Dupuytren’s Contracture • Vibration-induced White
Finger *
RSI – Warning Signs
• Recurring pain or soreness in neck, shoulders, upper back, wrists or hands.
• Tingling, numbness, coldness or loss of sensation.
• Loss of grip strength, lack of endurance, weakness, fatigue.
• Muscles in the arms and shoulders feel hard and wiry when palpated.
• Pain or numbness while lying in bed.
• 1 in 50 workers has RSI (TUC)• As high as 1 in 4 computer workers (RSIA)• 60% of children suffer discomfort using
laptops (Curtin University of Technology)• Last year 12.3 million sick days in
2000/2001 (HSE)• Ill managed RSI can cost an employer up
to 50% of an employee’s salary• £5 to £20 billion annually
RSI Numbers
RSI Prevention• Stop using the computer before you begin to feel symptoms.
– Workrave (http://www.workrave.org/)– Break Reminder (http://shrinkster.com/lz2)– AntiRSI (http://shrinkster.com/lz3)
• Posture• Breaks
– Desk-Trainer (http://www.desk-trainer.com/)– YouTube
• Variety of input devices• Exercise & hydration• Relaxation
– Diaphragmatic breathing (http://shrinkster.com/lz1)– Qigong– Progressive muscle relaxation (http://shrinkster.com/lz4)
RSI Treatment
• Partial or complete cessation of hand activity might be necessary
• Orthopaedic hand braces• Medications:
– Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory e.g ibuprofen– Anti-convulsant medications e.g. gabapentin
• Cold compression therapy• TENS therapy• Soft Tissue Therapy• Biofeedback• Massage • Stretches• Strengthening exercises• Surgery• Mind/Body approach
Employer’s Responsibilities
• The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 – Analyse workstations, and assess and reduce
risks– Ensure workstations meet minimum requirements– Plan work so there are breaks or changes of
activity– On request arrange eye tests and provide
spectacles if special ones are needed– Provide health and safety training and
information
Precedent Cases
• Kathleen Tovey and Kathleen Harris vs Inland Revenue (£82,000 and £79,000)
• Kath Watson vs Benefits Agency (£38,000 out of court)
• Others… £60,000 £30,000 £72,000• Mughal v Reuters (Mughal lost, Judge
Prosser – “"RSI does not exist“)• Most compensation awards aren’t
sufficient to warrant the risk of paying costs
Suing your Employer
• you have an injury – Medical evidence
• the injury was caused by your work – Accident reports, medical evidence etc
• there was a known risk of injury • the employer should have known of the risk • the employer could reasonably have done
something to prevent the risk • the employer failed to do anything to
prevent the risk
Take breaksWatch your postureThere isn’t always a
cure
Resources
• Health & Safety Executive (http://www.hse.gov.uk)
• HSE Advice (http://shrinkster.com/lzv)• Repetitive Strain Injury Association
(http://www.rsi.org.uk)• Eye Strain Info
(http://shrinkster.com/lzw)• My Blog
(http://goingspare.wordpress.com)