Computer Related Health Hazards

PRESENTED BY:- VISHAL CHATURANIBSc engg.d,ayalbagh educational institue

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Topics Covered

• Repetitive Strain Injuries • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome• Eye Strains• Internet Addiction • Stress and Depression• Ergonomics

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Repetitive Strain Injuries

(RSI)

Others names for RSI

• Work related upper limb disorder(WHO)

• Occupational overuse syndrome(NZ)• Cumulative trauma disorder(USA)• Computer related injuries(CSI)

RSI Facts and figures

• OSHA estimates over 7000,000 RSI’s occur every year.

• 15-20% of computers users throughout the world may have estimated RSI .

• 3 out of 5 office workers in Sweden have symptoms of RSI.

• Every day 6 people in uk have to leave their job due to RSI

DID YOU KNOW?

• 75% of Indian computers users report pain/numbness

• Over 30 young Indians IT/ITES professionals have lost their jobs because of advanced RSI

• 55% of Indian computer users got injured within a year of starting their first job

You are a computer athleteA dangerous occupation: This is also dangerous:

As a typical computer user, you “walk” several miles each day on your fingertips

(250 keystrokes / min) * (2 in / keystroke) * 4 hours = 2 miles

What is RSI?Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)

is pain or nerve problems in upper extremity (hands, arms, or shoulders)

can also include neck and back is a soft tissue disease (muscles and nerves) is an overuse syndrome

Symptoms: tightness, discomfort, stiffness,soreness or burning in the hands, wrists, fingers,

forearms, or elbow. pain that wakes you up at night; tingling, coldness or

numbness in the hands,and loss of strength and coordination in the hands

Repetition Of Tasks

Too Much Stress

Muscles Tendons Nerves Other soft

tissues

RSI

Free Powerpoint Templates Page 12

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

(CTS) is caused when median nerves that controls the functioning of the hands and fingers become compressed inside a “tunnel” made up of the wrist bones, or carpals.

Median Nerve Compressed

Symptoms of CTS injury

• Pain and discomfort• Numbness and coldness in the

hands• Loss of strength and/or joint

movement • Swelling and stiffness in the

hands• The need to massage your

hands, wrists and arms• Heaviness & even disturbs

sleep.

Reasons for CTS injury Long hours in the keyboard, especially those that

type more than four hoursLack of circulation in the muscles that prevents

nutrients and oxygen to reach the tissues Inadequate rest and breaks Poor posture including the sitting, placement of

hands on the keyboard and proper height of the keyboard

Poor diet (lack of vitamins)

CTS Treatment • Rest, rest and more rest • Use of a wrist brace or splint • Take medication like ibuprofen • Take vitamins• Keep hands warm, take breaks,

exercise your hands and arms • Use your knowledge of ergonomics • Surgery should be your last retreat

if everything else fails

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Eye Strains

• Eye strain is the single largest complaint of computer users causing soreness, irritation, blurred vision, redness and dryness of the eyes.

Reasons for this injury

Bad monitor resolution, flickering, or glare at the monitor Poor lighting conditions in the computer room distance between eye and screen readability of the screen Electromagnetic radiation emitted by the CRT (UVA)Staring at anything for a long period of time. Loss of negative ions in the atmosphere due to

electrostatic charges on the face of the CRT

Symptoms of Eye StrainsImpaired vision, double vision and blurred vision Difficulty in looking at one point for a period of

timeItchy dry eyes and discomfort while looking at the

VDT HeadachesEye fatigue that can have serious impact later in lifewatering and other sensations are eye problems associated with computer maneuverings

Eye Strain TreatmentUse your knowledge of ergonomics Take breaks when you feel strained Use your laptop when possible because the monitor

emits less radiationUse a monitor that holds a steady image without

flickering.Use the zooming function to improve readabilityThe screen should be kept 18-30 inches from ones

eyes or about an arm’s length.

Internet Addiction

• Use Internet every day without days off• Loosing track of time while surfing the Net.• Denial of high usage.• 51% of Internet addicts suffer severe job

impairment • 58% get addicted within the first 12 months of

Internet usage• Web addicts display similar brain changes to

those addicted to drugs or alcohol.

Discomgoogolation

• It is defined as feeling of distress or anxiety when unable to gain immediate information access.

• Derived from “discombobulate” which means illusion and ”Google”

• The internet users suffer from distress or anxiety when unable to get connected to the Internet.

• They felt frustrated and confused whilst unable to get online. • Some had higher stress levels.

Use internet only when necessary. Try to have account on only one of the social

networking sites. Indulge in other hobbies. Take care of time while chatting. If still suffered by online mania , consult psychologist. There is even an anti-facebook blog called sickfacebook.com to discuss issues.

Prevention

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Stress and Depression

• Computer operators experience more stress than any other occupational group the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has studied

Other Computer Related Health HazardsBack problems (pain) caused from the efforts of the

muscle to hold your posture for long periods of time Skin rashes that are caused from the static fields in

front of the screen causing ions and pollutants in the air to become positively charged and attach themselves to your negatively charged skin (especially in low humidity)

Abnormal reproductive outcomes due to electromagnetic radiation's affects on biological functions and biochemical processes inside our cells

Cancer and leukemia (?) Skin aging (?)

Advantages of RSI

ERGONOMICS Derived from the Greek words ergon(work)

and nomos(natural laws). Combined, it means THE LAWS OF WORK.

ERGONOMICS IN EVERDAY APPLICATIONS

WORKSTATION

1. The top of your monitor should be at eye level, and directly centered in front of you. It should be about an arm's length in front of you. 2. Your desk surface should be at roughly belly button level. When your arms are placed on the desk, your elbows should be at a ~90 degree angle, just below the desk surface. The armrests of your chair should be at nearly the same level as the desk surface to support your elbows.

The required adjustability to achieve an ergonomically correct computer workstation

3. Your feet should be flat on the floor with your knees at a ~90 degree angle. Your seat should not be pressing into the back of your knees; if necessary, tilt it slightly forward to alleviate any knee pressure. Sit fully back in your chair, with your back and shoulders straight and supported by the back of the chair.

4. When typing, your wrists should be in line with your forearms and not bent up, down, or to the side. Your keyboard should be directly centered in front of you. Other frequently used items should be nearby, within arm's reach.

R S IMay be worse than you think Prevent It before it causes permanent DAMAGE

THANK YOU