Screen-Based Equipment Policy

Approving Authority:	University Council in 1991 University OH&S Committee approved update in 2005
Establishment Date:	February 1991
Date Last Amendment:	6 June 2005
Nature of Amendment:	Updated Australian Standard reference number
Date Last Reviewed:	6 June 2005
Publication Reference:	n/a
Contact Officer:	Head, Occupational Health and Safety Unit

Table of Content

1.	Policy 1.1 All reasonable precautions will be taken to ensure the health and safety of operators of all screen-based equipment. 1.2 All new work stations must comply with the Australian New Zealand Standard AS4443:1997 (office panel systems - work stations). All existing workstations must be assessed by each Cost Centre and upgraded, as necessary, on a programmed basis by each Cost Centre. Note: A guide to the purchase and supply of equipment and the suitability of the working environment is available under the heading of Ergonomic Furniture and Office Accommodation Information on the OH&S Web Site.
2.	Operator Safety 2.1 The operators of screen-based equipment must know how: to operate the machine efficiently and safely; to recognise any hazards of operation; to adjust equipment and furniture; and to recognise early signs of work related injury. 2.2 All supervisors are responsible for ensuring that staff under their supervision know how to operate screen based equipment in a safe manner. Advice is available from the OH&S Unit.
3.	Organisational Arrangements 3.1 Job Design The number of screen based staff who work all or most of the day at a computer should be limited to the smallest possible number. Staff should, in general, have the opportunity to undertake a variety of office or other tasks. As a guide staff should not be required to enter data continuously for more than 50 minutes in any hour at screen-based equipment without a break of at least 10 minutes to perform different work. Consideration should be given to the batching of work and the rotation of staff within and outside the usual pool of staff. 3.2 Injuries If there is an injury due to repetition or related causes which, wholly or in part, may be due to work place design it is the responsibility of the area supervisor to inform the Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Unit of the injury as soon as is practicable after the injury occurs. The Head of the Occupational Health and Safety Unit will arrange for investigation of the work place to ensure that it conforms with this policy. It is the responsibility of the Faculty / Cost Centre concerned to ensure that the design and operation of the work station complies with any recommendations made by staff of the Occupational Health and Safety Unit as a result of that investigation. All supervisors must ensure that staff under their supervision report early signs of work related injury to the supervisor and the OH&S Unit.
4.	Certification of the need for glasses specifically for VDU work 4.1 The University will subsidise glasses needed by staff members who use a Visual Display Unit (VDU) at work provided the glasses are specifically prescribed for their VDU work, either because the visual problem arises with VDU work and the glasses are used only for that work, or in the case of staff members who have glasses for other purposes, there is a need for different glasses for VDU work. 4.2 A form which must be completed by the optometrist/ophthalmologist to certify the above need is available from the OH&S Unit, click here for an electronic download.