The Gazette 1992

GAZETTF

OCTOBER 1992

Are You Si tt ing Comfor tably . . .?

by Henry G Barry An EC Health and Safety

Framework directive will impose obligations on employers of staff who operate VDUs, to comply with rigorous standards of ergonomics. 1\vo hundred metres underground in a disused section of a salt mine in Cheshire, England, there is a testing laboratory for ICL's complete product range where exhaustive tests measure the electromagnetic conformance of the equipment to make sure that it will comply not only with EC directive 87/391/EEC ( " The Framework Directive") but also with seven satellite directives together wtih approximately 30 drafts on health and safety currently being discussed. The fact that ICL has invested over £lm in the project is indicative of how seriously the company regards not only the directive itself but future directives dealing with emissions from network cabling, printers, modems, and office equipment generally. By 31 December, 1992 all newly purchased computer equipment must meet the directive's stringent requirements. Existing equipment must be brought up to the directive's requirements by employers within four years after that date. However, before the reader becomes too complacent, it should be said that even now before national legislation in the UK and in this country has implemented the directives relating to health and safety at work, claims for damages for injuries at work associated with VDU operation are increasing, and nobody can afford to risk being sued. In the UK recently a Midland Bank employee, Pauline Burnard, received £45,000 damages in an out- of-court settlement after she was unable to work as a result of

Henry C. Barry

shooting pains in both arms. 7\velve British Tfelecom employees have mounted actions against British Telecom. The National Telecommunications Union is bringing another 83 claims. The General Municipal and Boilermakers Union has approximately 1,000 cases lined up and the Inland Revenue Staff Federation is processing 40 cases while the Civil and Public Service Association has 90 cases in the pipeline. The incidence of stress, postural and musculo-skeletal problems, eyestrain and headaches among employees is increasing. Under the Framework Directive employers have until the end of this year to analyse the health, and safety risks of "workstations". The Framework Directive refers to an individual's 'workstation' which is defined as "an assembly comprising of display screen equipment, which may be provided with a keyboard or input device and/or software determining the operator/machine interface". It is only a matter of time before the first Irish case comes to court.

wide, covering furniture, computers, keyboards, software, environment factors such as lighting, heating, ventilation, noise, humidity, radiation, space planning, display- related work routines and practices, health and safety training, eyesight checks, and the provision of glasses by employers. Incidentally the term workstation includes VDUs (which are now called 'DSEs' (display screen equipment). Pending the translation of the Framework Directive and satellite directives into national legislation, equipment to know what to buy and do to avoid being caught out? The Directive lists minimum requirements for the components of a workstation. Screens Characters should be clear, sharp, well-spaced and adequately sized. The image must be stable and not flicker and it must be easy for the user to adjust brightness and contrast. All screens must have a tilt and swivel base and must be free from reflective glare. how is the potential buyer of computers and other office

The scope of the Directive is very

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