Safer computing - teachers

The Current Situation with Regard to Computers in Schools

Information and Communication Technology is being integrated across all curriculum areas of teaching from preschools right through to colleges, and this means:

1. Both teachers and students will be spending more time on computers
2. Resources are usually allocated to buying computer hardware and software, rather than on training and ergonomic furniture
3. Many schools do not have money available for adjustable furniture, and teachers are not made aware of the importance of having school computers set up in a way that they can be adjusted to the individual requirements of the users
4. Teachers report having inadequate training in the use of computers and computer software
5. Teachers are often unaware of the risk of computer-related injuries and how to prevent them (see our related article Teachers and RSI)

Good Computing Safety Practice

Both teachers and students are exposed to the risk of developing computer-related injuries if good health and safety practices are not observed. The basic features of good health and safety practice are:

1. Adjustable computer furniture - both table and chair should be able to be adjusted
2. Good posture - knowing how to sit at a workstation in a way that prevents strain on neck and shoulder muscles and the spine
3. Regular breaks and varied tasks - to restore circulation, relieve tense muscles, break periods of inactivity/repetitive movement at the computer
4. Adequate training - in good computer work habits and set-up skills, and in relevant computer software programs

Setting up the Computer Under Less-Than-Ideal Conditions

Given that many schools are unable to purchase adjustable furniture for their computers, teachers will have the challenge of working out how to provide their students and themselves with safer computer setups.  Download How Do You Sit at the Computer? >and Checklist for Safer Computing and follow the guidelines for safer computing in addition to the following points:

1. Choose a desk which is wide enough for both the keyboard and mouse to sit side-by-side, and which is deep enough to allow the monitor to be about an arm's length from the computer user.  The user should be able to sit comfortably at the desk without restricting their knees.
2. The best chair to choose is one with height adjustment and good lumbar support.  It should have no arms.  The chair should be high enough to allow the user's elbows to be at about the same height as the desk.  If this means their feet do not touch the floor, a footrest (or equivalent, such as a pile of books) is needed to support the feet and keep the thighs parallel to the floor.
3. The top of the computer monitor should be about level with the eyes.  This is to avoid straining their neck by having to look either up or down at an unnatural or stressful angle.
4. The keyboard and mouse should sit together as closely as possible in front of the user.  This will minimise over-stretching the arm and shoulder, or holding the forearm at an awkward angle from the body.

In practice, teachers may find it difficult to obtain adequate furniture and the best accommodation will be to the "average sized" user.  This means starting with the best size and height desk, or configuration of desks, and then choosing seating to accommodate a range of children's sizes. Once the desk has been chosen, the computer is unlikely to be moved from that position, and therefore the next best option is to adjust the height of the chair to the user at the desk.  This will undoubtedly require a number of different chairs for different users.

It is also impractical to continually adjust such things as the height of the monitor if it means lifting it up to insert or take away, for example, books that have been used to improve its position.  Again it will be the chair that will determine the height of the user in relation to the monitor.

Laptop Computers

Laptops pose particular risks for computer users.  For information regarding the safer use of laptops go to our article Safer Laptop Computing.

Educating for Good Work Practices

Just as important as adjustable furniture in the prevention of computer-related injuries are good work practices. Good work practices reduce stress on the body as well as mental stress. These good work practices are:

1. Frequent rest breaks and micropauses
2. Scheduling work to avoid stressful build-ups around deadlines
3. Varying work to avoid long periods of repetitive actions and stressful postures
4. Training in keyboard skills, computer programs and safety practices. See Keyboard Shortcuts for tips on these.

Teachers need to be aware that many of their students will be spending many hours at home playing computer or other console games.  Many students will be working long hours outside school doing their assignments on a home computer. It is also very common for young people to spend a lot of time text messaging on their phones, or chatting via the Web.  The cumulative effect of all these repetitive hand movements has the potential to be very damaging. These children will need particular encouragement to follow good work practices.  Teachers should make explicit to their students, by both example and through hands-on teaching, ways to make these good work practices a habit.

Lesson Plans

Two lesson plans are available for download from this website:

1. Kids Negotiating the Electronic Superhighway - Self-care and Repetition Injuries
2. Kids and Computing - Don't Crash on Body with Your Computer

Employer’s Responsibility for a Safe and Healthy Work Environment

Your employer does have a legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy workplace.  If you are aware of anything in your workplace which could be considered a risk, you should discuss it with the School Principal or someone from the Occupational Health and Safety unit of the Education Department.

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