' Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint. ' - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910)
How to Ensure the Safe Use of ICT in Schools
Available to download below is BECTA advice on Interactive Whiteboard Health and Safety in the form of a poster to display near the board
itself, if your school would like to use it - in other words it is entirely optional!
The downloadable 'poster' can be laminated and displayed as a quick and easy display notice.
Why Do I Need to Consider Health and Safety Issues Using ICT?
Health and safety regulations state that employers must ensure that risk assessments are made and put in
place to manage any identified risk.
In the case of schools, the employer (the LEA, education authority or governing body, depending on the category of school) should provide health
and safety policies and should ensure that schools put these into operation.
These policies should cover the use of information and communications technology (ICT) in schools.
Information about health and safety issues within ICT are available here on eRiding. |
Employers may delegate certain tasks to schools, including risk assessment, but the employer retains overall responsibility for health and
safety management.
In practice, however, it is often the headteacher or classroom teacher who holds the day-to-day responsibility for ensuring that ICT equipment is
used correctly and safely.
If you are in school in the East Riding of Yorkshire you may be able to access the Schools' Intranet as a source of information and advice
on health and safety issues in schools etc.
 weblink: Schools' Intranet - Access to this site is limited.
What Do I need to Consider in Order to Ensure Safe Use of ICT Equipment?
Comfort
Users should be comfortably positioned, with easy access to all equipment.
While sitting, users must be able to adjust their position in relation to the equipment as appropriate.
Users should change posture frequently and take frequent 10-minute breaks away from the computer to stretch their limbs.
Desks and Workstations
There should be enough space around a workstation for paper, books and other materials, including any special educational needs equipment such as
overlay keyboards.
There should also be space for more than one pupil at a time, and for the teacher to gain access.
It is important to keep gangways and emergency exits clear.
Good ICT desk design should incorporate cable management, and may be modular to allow flexible arrangements.
Seating
There are many considerations in selecting seating for ICT classrooms.
Disruption in classrooms may be lessened if chairs have glides rather than castors.
Screw-thread chair columns can allow seat height adjustability, without the
temptation to ‘fiddle’ that often comes with gas-lift chairs,
and may be more suitable for smaller pupils to operate.
Use of wipe-clean plastic seats can address hygiene problems
and durability if this is likely to be an issue.
However, they may be uncomfortable to sit on for long periods
and may look less professional if the ICT suite also serves
as a community resource.
Chairs with backs are generally preferable to stools.
The facility to change seat heights is highly desirable:
pupils aged between 11 and 18 can vary in height by as much
as 500mm, yet they are expected to sit on the same size chairs.
Additionally, when using ICT, pupils will need to sit at
the recommended height (with the eye level at the top of the
screen).
To achieve the correct posture, the lower arms should be
roughly horizontal when working, knees should fit comfortably
under the desk with the thighs roughly horizontal, and the
back should be kept straight.
What is a problem at one school is not necessarily one at
another.
Schools therefore need to make purchasing decisions based
on a clear understanding of the teaching methods in use, how
their pupils interact with their environment, how teachers
address certain types of behaviour, and what the furniture
is expected to do.
A thorough risk assessment will help schools in this process
– the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) provides guidance
on this.
Furniture made to British Standard 5873 will come with an
assurance of strength and stability.
Schools can be confident that the items they buy that conform
to this standard are fit for purpose and should be robust
enough to stand daily classroom use.
The Schools Building and Design Unit (SBDU) of the DfES can
provide guidance on purchasing furniture and equipment.
Monitors
Monitors should tilt and swivel to suit the requirements
of individual users.
The top of the screen should be roughly at eye level.
Screens should be positioned to reduce reflection and glare
from lights and windows, using blinds where necessary, and
should be adjustable for brightness and contrast as the lighting
changes throughout the day.
They should also be cleaned regularly.
There may be screen distortion if speakers are placed too
close to the monitor, so it is advisable to position speakers
about 30cm away.
Keyboards
Users should have the option of using the keyboard flat or
tilted.
It is important to develop a good keyboard technique to reduce
the risk of upper limb disorders (including pains in the neck,
arms, elbows, wrists, hands and fingers).
This painful condition, which has the potential to cause
irreversible problems, is often known as repetitive strain
injury or RSI.
For children with years of typing ahead of them, using the
keyboard with index fingers only is highly risky.
RSI is easier to prevent than cure.
Interactive Whiteboards
Here are some practical and technical issues that you need to consider when planning the ordering and initial installation of interactive
whiteboards in a school.
When using an interactive whiteboard, make sure that children
are supervised at all times during the projector’s operation.
You should never stare directly into the beam of the projector
and, when entering the beam, you should not look towards the
audience or class for more than a few seconds. Give careful
consideration to factors such as positioning and, if possible,
keep your back to the beam at all times.
Click the screen capture to visit the National Whiteboard Network website for more advice and information. |
A maximum of 1500 ANSI lumens is generally considered adequate
for projection equipment in most classroom environments, except
in the most extreme ambient lighting conditions. In bright
daylight it is advisable to use window blinds rather than
increase the brightness of the projector.
When purchasing or using projectors for purposes where a
person may have to stand in front of the beam, consider a
method of brightness reduction, such as a neutral density
filter or brightness adjustment facility.
These modifications can be removed or adjusted to enable
the projector to be used to its full image quality potential
for other purposes such as cinema projections, when no one
will stand in front of the beam.
Software
Defective CD-ROMs or DVDs used in high-speed drives can shatter
and allow pieces of disk to escape from the drive.
To check that disks are in perfect condition, hold them up
to the light and examine them for cracks, scratches or defects
near the inner rim.
Noise
Almost all ICT equipment emits background noise if the power
is switched on, even when an item is not in use, and many
software packages feature sound as part of their operation.
Other ICT users in the classroom, especially those working
in groups, can be noisy or distracting. Use of headphones
may help to reduce distractions and aid concentration.
Soundproofing, re-positioning equipment or installing partitioning
may also help to reduce distraction from noise.
Heat and Light
The ideal temperature of an ICT suite is between 18 and 24
degrees Celsius, with humidity between 40 per cent and 60
per cent.
Almost all ICT equipment gives off heat, which can build
up during the day and become quite oppressive for users, as
well as detrimental to the equipment.
Ensure that the room is well ventilated by using air conditioning,
if available. Ideally, windows should be fitted with blinds
to avoid glare for screen users.
Personal Safety
When using equipment such as photocopiers, remember that
fast-moving parts can trap clothing, jewellery and hair.
Photocopiers should be located in well-ventilated areas,
and pupils should not be allowed to handle toners and inks,
or to try to repair faults.
Electrical Safety
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, all electrical
equipment should be maintained regularly.
Always leave technical repairs to the experts. Keep carbon
dioxide fire extinguishers near any ICT equipment.
The location of electrical equipment depends on the length
of cables and the availability of sockets for telephones,
TV aerials and power.
The location of the equipment must not increase the risk
of danger to equipment or users. The school should ensure
that there is a system in place for regular visual checks
of plugs, leads and other electrical equipment.
Mobile Equipment
ICT equipment is often heavy or bulky. You must assess the risk of lifting
heavy or awkward equipment and use trolleys where appropriate.
Hazardous Substances
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations
cover this area.
Risk assessment is necessary when using toners, printing
inks and cleaning materials.
Fluids used for cleaning and in some reprographic processes
are flammable.
They should not be used in confined spaces and adequate ventilation
should be maintained.
Links to Useful Websites
Operational Services Department
Building Surveying and Engineering Services Manager
Doug Kermode
Tel: (01482) 395803
email: doug.kermode@eastriding.gov.uk
Principal Building Surveyor
Steve Taylor
Tel: (01482) 395937
email: steve.taylor@eatriding.gov.uk
Principal Electrical Engineer
Trevor Collingwood
Tel: (01482) 395961
email: trevor.collingwood@eastriding.gov.uk
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DLC ICT Newsletter Autumn 2009
