| From: KERNEL::MRGATE::"A1_KERNEL::CWHITE" 5-AUG-1992 11:16:53.69
To: @Distribution_List
CC:
Subj: EC VDU PROPOSAL
From: NAME: Cheryl White
FUNC: Personnel
TEL: 7833-3545 <CWHITE AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>
To: See Below
My apologies for not being able to make the last Health and Safety meeting.
Something needed my involvement at short notice.
I have, however, completed my action to inform you of the proposals
covering those employers who have people working with 'display screen
equipment' and have put it into the system to forward to you all.
I have made it as easy reading as possible and summarised its contents
overall. As I have had the privilege of reading the whole document (yawn!)
I am more than happy to answer any detailed questions that may arise.
It is still a consultative document and is not law.
Regards,
Cheryl.
WORK WITH DISPLAY SCREEN EQUIPMENT
Proposals for Regulation and Guidance
From the Health and Safety Commission
Please note that this is a consultative document and is not going to be law
in its present format.
The Regulations will implement a European directive of May 1990 on the
minimum H&S requirements for work with display screen equipment.
Regulations will come into force in January 1993 but display equipment will
not need to come into line with the regs until 31 December 1996.
WHY DO WE NEED IT?
The rationale for such regs has come from the number of incidents of
musculoskeletal problems, visual fatigue and stress recorded from people
continually using VDU equipment.
SUMMARY OF WHAT REGULATIONS COVER
The regs go as far as to recommend design of VDU, keyboards, work surfaces
and the chair! Moving into space requirements and lighting and even the
decor which may, if extra bright, cause reflection from the screen. It
also covers recommendations for noise levels, heat, radiation and humidity
and even tells us that the software must be suitable for the task in hand
(NO! she says sarcastically!) It also states that no metrics must be used
to measure the user without their knowledge.
QUALIFICATION
Those people defined as 'users' are those:
'where use of the display screen equipment is more or less continuous on
most days'
Someone who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part
of his/her normal work.
(there are further definitions around who is classed as a 'user')
and exclusions cited.
REGULATION 4: REST BREAKS
If natural breaks and pauses do not occur in the work (eg. employee able to
flick attention to non-screen based work for a time) then work breaks
should be planned in (it goes onto say that where keyboards are used
intensely, knitting in the breaks should be avoided - you have been
warned!!)
REGULATION 5: PROTECTION OF USERS' EYES AND EYESIGHT
Employees are entitled to eye tests for display screen work at regular
intervals and employers should offer an examination by a registered
optician.
REGULATION 6: INFORMATION TO EMPLOYEES
Employees must be told of their rights with regard to the above and what
the employer is doing about it.
REGULATION 7: TRAINING FOR USERS
Before any new person becomes a 'user' H&S training should be provided by
the company with regards to any workstation that is being used and general
H&S awareness.
THE END OF SUMMARY.
CAUTION - This is not yet law but a set of proposals for a future law.
To Distribution List:
natalie bishop at uvo,
NAME: Tina Linehan <LINEHAN AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
david milne at uvo,
brian anthony at uvo,
debbie howard-jones at uvo,
norman pettet at uvo,
_hodgkins AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO,
frances stiles at uvo,
NAME: MIKE COGGINS <COGGINS AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
NAME: Pat Oliver <OLIVER AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
NAME: Karen Clarke <CLARKEK AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
NAME: Alistair McIntosh <MCINTOSH AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
ian fischer at uvo,
NAME: Mandie Bentley <BENTLEYM AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
NAME: Rusty Broad <BROADR AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
NAME: MIKE AYLING <AYLING AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
theo bartley at uvo,
NAME: Jon Morris <MORRIS AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>,
NAME: ROSEMARY TOBUTT <TOBUTTR AT A1_KERNEL @THESUN @UVO>
|
| From: KERNEL::AYLING "01-Feb-1993 0935" 1-FEB-1993 10:13:21.95
To: @POST:VAX_9000_DIAG
CC:
Subj: HEALTH & SAFETY
Hi all
Just a few points of interest that came out of the Health & Safety meeting
on Friday 29th Jan. There will be "OFFICIAL" minutes and announcements in the
near future, but these are the basic points.
regards
Mike.
1) EYE TESTS - the Company has had to review its position on eye tests for
vdu users in view of the recent EEC directive. Basicly the Company will
have to pay for eye tests for those employees who are vdu users, upon
request. Watch for the official Policy on this once it has gone thru Legal
Dept.
2) SMOKING ROOMS - the escape of fumes into the shift kitchen upstairs and
around the vending machines and corridor down stairs was noted. The door
to the downstairs Smoking room will have the grill blocked off. Both rooms
are to have extractor fans fitted ( but awaiting landlords permission before
work can begin).
3) SMOKING POLICY -
a) BETWEEN 07:00 AND 24:00 MONDAY - FRIDAY the smoking rooms must be
used.
b) AT OTHER TIMES i.e. BETWEEN 24:00 - 07:00 MONDAY - FRIDAY AND @
WEEKENDS - allowed at desks BUT by agreement.
This Policy was agreed by the Building Management Team and if it is not
being adheard to then escalate thru YOUR MANAGER.
c) REAPPRAISAL OF SMOKING POLICY - another survey is on its way to
assess peoples feelings on the current Policy. Could lead to total ban
if enough pressure applied.
|