Prevent a workplace accident with slips, trips and falls training

The most common cause of workplace injuries is slips, trips and falls. Over 15,000 workers suffered major injuries from slipping or tripping at work, and 40 workers lost their lives last year as a result. Slips, trips and falls are therefore not a mere inconvenience, but a real danger in the workplace, and should be treated as such.

The easiest way to prevent slips, trips and falls is to give staff safety training. Knowledge is definitely the key to falls prevention, and the easiest way to give staff a safety training course. But accident prevention training is often considered expensive and ineffective. This is why it comes as a surprise to many that there are interesting slips, trips and falls awareness courses available which are cost-effective, time-effective and prevent accidents in the workplace.

Once you see the benefit of training staff in a falls prevention course it helps to understand what to look for. For example, the length of a course is important. You won’t want a slips, trips and falls course to be too long in that you lose too much staff time or wages, but you want it to be long enough to get the message across. The perfect length for a falls prevention course is around 20minutes, but an ideal course will let staff learn through an interactive CD-ROM or online course in their own time, because everybody reads and absorbs information at a different speed.

There are many advantages of choosing CD-ROM or online courses to traditional teaching or presentation methods. They can be paused and finished at another time, and the progress of different users can be tracked simultaneously. They also tend to be cheaper than hiring the services of a health and safety teacher, and staff can work at their desk or elsewhere in the workplace, or even at home, and you do not need all employees to carry out the falls training at the same time, improving efficiency in the workplace. CD-ROMs and online courses also boast unlimited use and can therefore be used to train other staff in the future.

Ensure that your accident prevention training comes with technical support if you are choosing a CD-ROM or online-based learning programme. For effective prevention of accidents in the workplace consider the course’s content too. Choose a training course with high quality content, a mix of media such as videos, pictures and text, and interactivity to make the information more memorable. A falls prevention programme with a test at the end will give you proof that staff have undergone training.

Following all of these tips and choosing an effective falls prevention course will reduce the chances of slips, trips and falls, and lead to a safer workplace.

IHASCO provide the highest quality of safety training courses on the market. Their CD-ROMs and online courses cover a comprehensive range of accident prevention training with interactive software featuring videos, graphics, images and tests.

Falls prevention training by iHASCO

Save yourself money with DIY conservatories

With summer coming up, we start to envy those who have conservatories. Not only do they provide some much needed additional space, but they also offer the luxury of experiencing the natural world from indoors. The majority of people decide against installing a conservatory onto their homes, blaming this on the money aspect.

But this does not need to be a reason to decide against a conservatory. The majority of your neighbours who have white uPVC or hardwood conservatories will have bought and had them installed by a single company. But did you know that the labour costs alone would have been covered by the majority of the money paid towards this? Fitting fees can often amount to thousands of pounds of the overall cost that you would pay for a brand new conservatory.

For this reason, DIY conservatories are becoming increasingly popular nowadays. A DIY conservatory is self-explanatory; you build your own conservatory. You can choose exactly what design you want, as well as being able to add your own personal touch to its features. Once you have made your purchase and the supplies have been delivered to your home, you then build the conservatory yourself. By purchasing supply only conservatories, you can still experience all the normal benefits but with an additional enjoyment of the fact that you have saved yourself money.

If you are a particularly handy person and enjoy taking pride in your work, this is the perfect option for you. You can build your conservatory in your own time, knowing that each aspect is being created exactly as you want. Once you have finished, step back to admire the structure and take pride in your own handiwork. Alternatively you can employ someone to help if the thought of building your own conservatory terrifies you but you still want to reap the financial benefits. You may have a friend or a member of the family who would be only too happy to help.

Or you could employ a professional company to help. Whilst this would cost you a little more, you would still be saving money than if you had requested that the supplying company install the conservatory for you. By investing in a conservatory, you can have the chance to view nature from inside your home whilst experiencing the benefits of additional space. But by purchasing a DIY conservatory, you will save money and have the chance to ensure that you conservatory is tailored to your exact requirements.

 Conservatory Quote Online are an online service that provide their customers with competitive quotes for all kinds of conservatories. To choose the right conservatory to suit you, they are happy to offer you help and advice. With their ‘Best Price Deal’ package available, visit their website today to obtain a quote for a DIY conservatory.
Supply only conservatories

Geogrid: For high quality, cost effect ground reinforcement

The new Geogrid ground reinforcement tile is the ideal solution for many areas, including driveways, golf courses, paddocks, paths and gateways. The unique, durable tile provides a solid and level surface for both pedestrians and vehicles. The interlocking design of the Geogrid tile allows a fast and efficient method for providing a high strength, level surface.

Geogrid tiles have been designed and manufactured in the UK and were created with a high strength feature that can withstand 350 tonnes per square metre. The unique ground reinforcement solution can reduce both time and money as each tile can be quickly and easily installed. Geogrid tiles are also environmentally friendly as they are made from fully recyclable materials and they offer a completely safe ground solution for workers, the public and the environment.

Geogrid tiles are also ideal for areas that may be prone to flooding or drainage problems, as the unique design allows excellent water dispersion. Geogrid is a flexible solution. It can be used for either permanent or semi permanent ground reinforcement. Despite its extremely durable design, it is also incredibly light in weight, meaning your can handle and install each tile with ease.
Providing safety for both workers and the public is extremely important. Geogrid is non-slip and perfect for use during icy and rainy weather conditions.

Geogrid tiles can even be used on uneven grounds and areas with slopes and embankments. For designing car parks, marker block inserts can provide an additional useful option for easily marking out parking spaces, disabled areas or certain routes.
With the flexibility, ease and low cost of Geogrid tiles, this high quality temporary or permanent ground solution can be used at a wide range of events and construction sites. Regular Outdoor concerts, festivals and fates are becoming increasingly popular, however with no ground solution grass areas are often left with permanent damage, particularly when the grounds are muddy and wet. Geogrid tiles can be filled with grass or gravel, improving their appearance for high profiled events or locations such as golf courses, which require a permanent ground solution. Opting for a ground protecting tile such as Geogrid will ensure your event runs smoothly without damaging the grounds.
There are now several different types of ground protective matting. Geogrid is one of the only forms that ticks all the boxes with its low cost, efficiency and ease of installation.

For a high quality, low cost ground reinforcement solution, Geogrid tiles are the way forward.

Zigma Ground Solutions are world leaders in offering high quality ground protection solutions. Unlike other companies who offer protective tiles, the team at Zigma are designers, manufacturers and suppliers for all their ground solution products. Visit their website today to view their extensive range of temporary and permanent ground reinforcement solutions.
Geogrid

Understanding land surveying, the different types and methods

There are many types of land surveying, employed for different purposes and using different techniques.

An archaeological field survey is an assessment of archaeological sites or finds, where their locations are plotted in a landscape. Almost every method of land surveying can be employed in an archeological survey, including GPS, aerial photography and historic literary resources. Laser surveying can produce 3D computerised models of artifacts.

Another type of survey is an as built survey. These are used during a construction project, or once one has been completed. It will evaluate the location of the constructed elements, and is often drawn in red or redline on an overlay. Layering an as built survey over original design plans will allow for an easy comparison of the construction progress.

A bathymetric survey will map the bed of an ocean, lake, river or other body of water. A bathymetric survey will measure the depth of the land below sea level, and is the direct opposite of a hypsometry survey, which will measure the height of land above sea level. They depth measurement is likely to be carried out with the use of sound measuring such as sonar, and global positioning (GPS) will measure this position on the earth’s surface.

A boundary survey will establish the legal boundaries of land. Boundary surveys will ascertain the corners of a ‘parcel’, and may involve the setting or restoration of monuments or markers to mark these boundaries.

Deformation surveys determine and measure the change in structures and objects. They use geodetic measuring devices, geotechnical measuring devices and other techniques such as radar measuring devices. This type of survey can be used to measure dams, roads, mining sites, volcanoes, settlements and earthquake-prone areas, and how they have changed over time. Laser scanning is one method which can achieve an accurate measurement of deformation.

Engineering surveys may use topographic, layout or as-built surveys, but feature more detailed data. Laser surveying is one way to achieve such accurate and detailed information.

A foundation survey is carried out to collect the positional data of construction foundations. These surveys show whether or not the foundations were constructed at the right location and elevation as authorised in the plans.

Geological surveys are general recordings of the geologically significant features of an area. This is a general term, and can describe other types of survey.

Hydrographic surveys map the coastline and seabed, and are used in navigation and engineering.

A building survey or ‘as-built’ survey are types of measured survey, which is a general term to describe the survey done to produce plans of a building. Measured surveys can be carried out using any method of surveying, and may include laser surveying.

Mortgage surveys are also called physical surveys. This type of survey will show land boundaries and location of buildings. Sometimes one of these surveys may be required before a lender will approve a mortgage loan.

Structural surveys are often bought by home-buyers. Structural surveys inspect the structural stability of a building or structure, and will make note of their condition and what work may need doing.

Topographic surveys will mark the elevation of points on a piece of land, presenting them as contour lines. These can be carried out in a number of ways including triangulation and laser surveying techniques, and may or may not include surface features such as trees and plants.


SUMO Services provide land surveying nationwide, with a comprehensive list of services. SUMO can provide measured building surveying, plan collation, utility detection and mapping and topographic surveying.

Building surveying

Purchasing a yacht

Buying a yacht is an extremely rewarding experience. It conjures up images of serenely sailing into the sunshine, free to explore exciting new places from a yacht with all the mod cons. Owning your own yacht might seem expensive and unachievable.

Buying a brand new luxury yacht is obviously unaffordable for most people. You will have to pay for insurance, crew or training lessons, fuel and maintenance. A smaller sailing yacht, however, may be more affordable than you first thought. Browsing broker’s websites will give you a rough idea of how much a yacht is going to cost - some are just £16,000. This may seem expensive at first, but consider the money you will save on holidays, travel and hotels. And the experience of freedom to explore the seas at your own pace and from the comfort of your own surroundings is much more rewarding.

A broker will be able to source you a suitable yacht for sale. The advantage of owning a sailing yacht to a motor yacht is that sailing yachts rely on a cheaper and more relaxed form of fuel: the wind. Sailing is generally considered more rewarding as you put your practical skills more to the test.

The main types of yachts are day sailing, weekender, cruising and luxury yachts. Sailing is generally a day-long act, and sailing yachts often do not have a cabin because of this. Weekender yachts are under 9.5 metres in length, usually have a cabin or two and are intended for use for no more than 3 days. Cruising yachts are larger, usually between 7 and 14 metres long, and are equipped for long journeys. Luxury yachts tend to be over 25metres long, with even more space and luxurious finishings.

The process of finding a yacht for sale begins with the broker. Try to understand your needs and budget before speaking to a yacht broker. The size of the yacht often depends on your budget, but remember you may be able to charter your yacht out to earn some money to cover costs while you are not using it.

If you are buying your first sailing yacht it makes sense to buy through a broker. They will share their expertise into the different types and brands available, answering any questions which you may have. Understand your needs before contacting a yacht broker. Will you be spending weeks sailing the world, or sailing the coast of Britain on the odd day at the weekend? Source a place to keep your yacht too. Dockage can be difficult to find in some areas, so talk to the people at marinas about available space before you buy your yacht. If you will be chartering your yacht think about when you will want to use it. Crowds hit the Caribbean each winter and the Mediterranean each summer so this is when you will be able to make most money chartering your yacht out.

You will only truly be able to know if you like the feel of a boat by spending time on board, and your yacht broker will explain whether this is a possibility.

Yachtseek are global brokers of yachts and boats. They have an online resource of dinghies, sailing yachts, luxury yachts, power yachts and racing yachts around the world.

Yachts

Finding Ideal Web Hosting Services and Domain Name Registration Services

Regardless of someone’s intentions when creating a website—whether those intentions pertain to a certain commercial web site such as an online front page for a business or other commercial venture, or a non-commercial venture altogether—finding the appropriate web hosting services and complementary domain name registration services are of the utmost importance.

The motives for creating a non-commercial web site are myriad, and include trying to create an anchor site for someone’s various social networking sites to link to for more information, something as simple as an online resume for the person creating the web site, or a non-financial, non-commercial site regarding to something else altogether, such as a fan site for a given television program or book series.

At the outset, it might appear as though the problem of finding the ideal types of web hosting services would be best considered as a realm totally independent of the steps needed to properly pursue domain name registration services. On the surface, this does seem to be the case considering the fact that the types of concerns relevant to only one type of concern ought to be considered separately from the other class of concerns.

The support for this theory mostly lies in the notion that one given set of concerns does not directly overlap with the other set of concerns, and therefore the two sets of concerns ought to be considered in complete isolation of one another. There is some support for this theory, since literally speaking, the concerns regarding web hosting and domain name registration should be totally separate except for the fact that the web site is the same in both cases, though this in itself does not seem to be sufficient reason to consider the two types of concerns together.

For example, a site containing significant content of one type or another might require a special type of web hosting services , and therefore a given set of companies with this capability ought to be the correct set as far as choosing a web hosting company would be concerned. The optimal answer, however, takes the effects of a given set of decisions into account as well as the different concerns themselves and whether they overlap in the absence of whether the concerns in isolation would overlap.

Since there are separate considerations related to questions of quality and cost, therefore they should be considered in their own proper context and relation to one another. Web hosting is its own concern, however, and therefore in terms of creating web sites the two should be considered separately in terms of immediate concerns, as discussed above.

When the concerns drift to the effects of the two, however, including such concerns as cost and quality that emanate from each separate domain of concerns, the effects of each choice must be considered as concerns in themselves, and when these concerns are considered, they certainly do overlap. As you can see, whether concerns are interrelated greatly depends on how the spheres are conceptualized in context of one another.

Time to spring clean with your professional carpet cleaning machine

Simply vacuuming our carpets may appear to get rid of all the dirt, however deep in the carpet pile lies infesting bacteria. Carpets and rugs make cosy, warm homes for microbes which can spread harmful germs all around your home. During the winter months in particular, carpets can often become damp which has been known to cause bronchial asthma, a very serious disease.

Infesting bacteria and microbes will begin to attract dust mites. Many people are unknowingly allergic to these pesky insects and they have been known to cause skin rashes, eye and nose irritation. Dust mites will also eventually spread onto furniture and mattresses, making eliminating them a very difficult task. A professional deep clean around your entire household and washing all bedding and fabrics on a high heat should remove any dust mites.

Dirty carpets can also lead to indoor air pollution. This is caused by damp, dirty floor coverings, mold and dust mites. Air pollution in the home has been known to cause a wide range of illnesses, including coughs, colds and allergic reactions. Long-term exposure to air pollution can also cause asthma, sinusitis and other respiratory illnesses.

Keeping your carpets thoroughly clean is crucial for your familys health and wellbeing, particularly if you have babies or small children. Many carpet cleaners are designed with dangerous chemicals, therefore it is important to ensure your carpet cleaning product or machine is a well established brand that has no added harmful chemicals. You should deep clean your carpets with a professional machine around once a month. In between these times there are simple techniques you can follow to reduce the chances of any bacteria coming into contact with your carpet. These include making sure any visitors wipe their feet and take their shoes off upon arrival and immediately wiping up any spills with a damp cloth.

There are many different types of carpet cleaners. These can feature manual cleaning products such as sprays and foams or electronic devices which can be rented or bought to professionally clean the carpets in your entire home. Many traditional electronic carpet cleaners can be extremely heavy and difficult to use, they are also known to attract dirt back to clean areas. Newly designed carpet cleaning machines are incredibly lightweight and have an easy to use one button mechanism. The detergents used in these machines are also specially designed to protect your carpet against any future stains.

Several manual cleaning products now come in many different forms, designed to clean specific stains or certain areas of the home. Red stain remover for instance will eliminate and break down red dye bonds to remove tough stains. Urine eliminator is ideal for removing pet stains, as it destroys underlying odours.

Whether you choose to rent or buy your carpet cleaning machine, by dedicating just 1-2 hours each month to deep clean your carpets, your home will be a healthy and happy environment to live in.

Rug Doctor offer professional carpet cleaning machines that can be bought or rented. Across the UK there are 2,800 outlets which stock Rug Doctor cleaning products and machines. Visit their website today to view their range of professional carpet cleaning solutions.
Carpet cleaners

Villa Holidays in the South of France: A guided tour

THE COTE DAZUR is an area that stretches west as far as Menton. This is the area where the hilly country and Alps fall off to the coast. Landscapes are spectacular with frequent sea views even further inland. The best value for holiday rentals is to be found in an area slightly inland, which provides a perfect combination of scenic hilltop medieval villages, filled with good restaurants and quirky markets.Many villas are also within close proximity of the coast, ideal for spending long summer days on the beach. Views from your holiday retreat can consist of magnificent landscapes just west of Grasse. Place names to look out for are Valbonne, Opio, Cabris and Tourrettes-sur-Loup.

Experience an amazing family holiday in the Cote DAzur in luxury modern villa with private pool and spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. Enjoy lazy days on the terrace or stroll to the nearby idyllic village of Le-Bar-Su-Loup, where you can find restaurants and bakeries. Many villas can sleep up to 8-10 people and even feature extras such as, barbeques and trampolines, perfect for family days in the sun.

EAST OF NICE: is the stretch of coast that includes Monaco, Cap Ferrat and as far as the Italian border. This is where the serious money is, as well as some of the finest villas: the beautiful scenery and high quality construction make all the difference here. Villas in this area are closer to the sea: Surprisingly enough, finding a villa close to the beach is hard to achieve in the South of France, however these borders offer some hidden gems right on the edge of the coast. Villas in Eze-sur-Mer, Villefranche-sur-Mer and Cap Ferrat all provide fantastic sea views.

THE VAR: a very popular area for holidays is around the Gulf of St Tropez. St Tropez was once a sleepy fishing village until the 1950s, when it first came to prominence with superstars of the day gracing the then undeveloped sands and made the Pampelonne Beach world-famous. It retains an informal and unforced glamour and remains a favourite destination for the ultra-rich and famous. Villa holidays here are not cheap and rents close to the Pampelonne can be described as eye-watering, but as you get a little way back and further from the beaches they come down markedly. Just a very few kilometres away towards Ste Maxime, there are some charming villas with every convenience costing approximately a third what you would pay on the St Tropez peninsula.

Around St Tropez are some of the finest villas with large pools overlooking the magnificent French Riviera bays. Villas can accommodate up to 8 -12 guests and even come complete with your own driver, chef and house manager, who are available whenever you need them. Your summer evenings could be spent under the stars in one of two terraces overlooking beautiful sea views.Alternatively, you could opt to stay in a farmhouse surrounded by the beautiful French countryside, complete with your own tennis court, private pool and just a short walk from the beach.

Palmer and Parker are experts in finding luxury villas France , Spain, the Algarve and the Caribbean.All villas are privately owned and unique and special in their own way. Visit their website today to book your villa South of France

Solar electric panels: some sort of remedy to the expected energy crisis?

Britain, its people, as well as the world are in trouble. On a micro scale British people tend to be having to pay progressively increased sums for their fundamental energy needs, whilst on a macro level the world will soon find itself dealing with an energy crisis that comes from the diminishment of its fossil fuel resources. This short article looks at the problem, and examines potential solutions.

The problem

Many experts have approximated that by 2015 Britain’s power generating ability might in reality be decreased as much as thirty per-cent since it's fossil fuel plus nuclear energy stations are shut down. Exactly why exactly is this? One particular rationale is that Britain was rather far ahead of its time when it came to nuclear power and therefore designed power stations which are at this point becoming increasingly unsafe and require decommissioning. Some might inquire exactly why this is a problem, as surely more can be built?

Regrettably whilst on paper nuclear power gives a powerful solution to Britain’s and indeed the world’s energy requirements, it is both expensive and progressively thought of as erratic. The recent explosion in Japan for example has seen Germany cease its nuclear programme entirely and has encouraged other nations to look at the energy resource with higher mistrust. The second reason why Britain is soon to encounter an energy crisis is that just like the rest of the earth, it really is at the mercy of the reality that there is only a limited quantity of natural resources which include oil coal and gas which may be utilised.

We're currently experiencing the end results of this just about every month with ever escalating utility rates highlighting the increasing scarcity and expense of finding and unearthing fossil fuels. Prices will continue to increase as demand escalates and supply diminishes. Even though some Western nations have committed to going green, they've usually tried to decrease their usage of fossil fuels without simultaneously raising their dependence on environmentally friendly technology to the same extent, thus generating an imbalance.

The solution

On the broadest of levels the solution is to make use of greener and more sustainable technologies. On a more precise level, the very best solution at a every day and commercial level may well be making use of solar electricity by using solar photo voltaic panels. Solar photovoltaic panels convert light into electricity which in turn feeds the electrical circuits in your house, business, manufacturing plant or farm.

Provided there is light the photovoltaic cells will function, and therefore they will run proficiently regardless of whether it is cloudy. These benefits can be attained by fitting a solar panel installation to the roof of the suggested building. The advantages of making such a move are evident. Through installing solar panels you have a continual method of obtaining solar electric and that means you won’t be paying out for the electricity you’d typically be obtaining from the national grid.

There will always be light so long as the sun exists and thus there isn't any risk of this power source depleting, as opposed to fossil fuels. Additionally, on an environmental stage if more people do this then there will end up being less pressure on fossil fuels and a genuine change to a much more eco friendly energy resource might be engineered. The straightforward logic behind such a shift and the utilisation of solar panel installations to produce solar electricity has been recognised by the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change who have been tasked with investigating and putting into action technologies which will help remedy the coming energy crises and ecological consequences that follow.

If people do start using solar panels and solar electricity therefore the energy crisis may perhaps be weakened and the environment might be assisted. In this way solar power and the solar electricity photovoltaic cells create could be the answer to Britain’s and indeed the world’s energy woes.

The writer works strongly with Solar Days, who offer premium solar panel installations, thereby helping households, farms and businesses generate their own solar electricity.

More about solar panels

See India through the Golden Triangle

A tour of India’s Golden Triangle is the perfect way to experience the diverse wonders of this astounding country. One could spend a lifetime exploring India, from the gardens of Srinagar on the banks of the Jhelum River in the north, to Bangalore and the hub of modern India’s IT industry in the south. It is, however, northern India which remains most popular with holidaymakers due to its rich collection of some of the country’s most famous sites, and a tour of the Golden Triangle is the perfect introduction.

The points of India’s Golden Triangle are formed by the cities of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. Flying into Delhi to begin your seven night India tour, you will have the chance to experience the capital’s world famous street life. Take a stroll through Chandni Chowk and visit the Red Fort, built in the seventeenth century by the Mughal Emperors and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2007. This historic district at the heart of Old Delhi also reflects India’s diverse religious heritage. As well as being home to the Jama Masjid – one of India’s most famous mosques – it also contains the Hindu Gauri Shankar Temple, the Christian Central Baptist Church and the Sikh Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib.

From there, your Indian tour will take you to Agra, site of the world famous Taj Mahal. Cars and other polluting forms of transport are not allowed near this stunning monument, but those taking holidays in India through specialist travel agencies may be able to enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride from the car park. And what better way to enjoy one of the world’s most romantic views?

Your week-long tour of India reaches its conclusion at Jaipur, the third point on the Golden Triangle. Here, you can take an elephant ride to Amber Fort. This famous hilltop town is a favourite with visitors from all around the world due to its intricate design – which combines artistic elements of the local Hindu and Rajput cultures – and breathtaking view across the Maota Lake. Jaipur itself has its own architectural delights to offer; in 1876 its buildings were washed in red in honour of the visiting Empress, Queen Victoria. This unique feature has earned it the nickname “the Pink City”, but this region of India is every bit as notable for its people as for the buildings they inhabit. Dinner at a traditional village during your stay in Jaipur will allow you to experience the personal side of India firsthand.

A tour of India’s Golden Triangle is the perfect introduction to a culture that has astonished and mesmerised the rest of the world for centuries.

The Holiday Place offer a range of packages for holidays in India and all around the world. Visit their website to book a tour of the Golden Triangle that includes elephant rides, horse drawn carriages and some of the world’s most stunning monuments.
Holidays in India

Computer health and safety when using display screen equipment

The phrase ‘Display Screen Equipment (DSE) Training’ could mean anything...some might even think it is something to do with fixing computers. But don’t be fooled by the words! DSE training is for anyone who regularly uses a computer.

In January 1993 The Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 came into effect. These ‘new’ display screen regulations became necessary because of the rise in use of display screen equipment, to protect the health of everyone “who habitually uses display screen equipment as a significant part of his normal work”. The computer health and safety display screen regulations even apply to employees who work from home if they sit at a screen for a good part of their work.

Of course, using a screen should not be considered as really dangerous. In fact there has been a great deal of ICT health and safety studies carried out, for example into how a computer may affect eyesight, and the results show there’s no evidence that it causes disease or permanent damage to eyes. Most safety concerns to do with computers are to do with posture. A relatively high number of DSE workers, particularly those who haven’t carried out DSE training, complain about aches and pains, eyestrain and headaches.

Aches and pains can be in the fingers, hands, wrists, arms, shoulders and backs - these are musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) but are often referred to as repetitive strain injuries (RSI). If nothing is done to help, and staff aren’t given DSE training, these aches and pains may well become serious. RSI injuries can be caused by a poor typing position or not taking regular breaks, and early action is important to avoid them.

Headaches and eyestrain may be exacerbated by screen glare from a poorly positioned computer screen, incorrect contrast on the screen, screen characters which are too small or not in sharp focus or spending too long looking at the screen without a break. Stress and poorly designed software can cause tension headaches.

Statistics from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) show that although work-related MSDs are on the decrease, they still make up an alarming proportion of the work-related illnesses each year. In 2010/2011 nearly 1.2 million working people were suffering from a work-related illness and of these nearly half (508,000) were musculoskeletal disorders. MSDs are not only the result of computer use of course, other factors such as poor manual handling technique also plays a part.

Just a few simple adjustments may be all that’s needed to eliminate health concerns and meet display screen regulations. Good posture can be achieved with a well laid-out and well-positioned workstation, and regular breaks and changing task throughout the day can also avoid work-related MSDs.

For example, a few adjustments to seating and posture may stop that gradual build-up of pain across the shoulders, or in the small of the back. The chair should be stable and adjustable to create the correct height for the desk. The chair back should also tilt and adjust up and down to a position to support the small of the back securely. It’s a bit like getting into the driver’s seat of a car which has been driven by someone else - it needs to be adjusted for each driver before they start driving the car.

Once the chair is comfortable then think about how to sit. It’s important to keep the curves in the back in alignment - that means no slumping, stretching or twisting - and this could mean rearranging the things on the desk and in the immediate vicinity to a more logical position (the things used most should be the easiest to get at).

Perhaps, similar to a motorway ‘take a break’ should flash up at intervals on the computer screen of regular users!

Simple adjustments to the workstation or workday can reduce RSI, pain and tension. DSE training discusses these adjustments in further detail, and helps employers meet display screen equipment regulations. Choosing DSE training which ends with a DSE assessment will give employers proof of what their staff have learnt.

A concise, easy-to-follow, 30-minute DSE training course is available from The Interactive Health and Safety Company (iHasco). Visit their website and sample their Display Screen Equipment training programme, which includes a full personal DSE assessment.

DSE training