September 5, 2003—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has added a new eTool concerning Computers to its Web site. OSHA says that this eTool illustrates simple, inexpensive principles that will help create a safe and comfortable computer workstation for the millions of people who work with computers every day. The page includes basic design goals to consider when setting up a computer workstation or performing computer-related tasks.
The eTool is designed for readers to identify areas for improvement in posture, component placement, or work environment in their own workstations. It provides suggestions to minimize or eliminate identified problems, and allows readers to create their own “custom-fit” computer workstation. The eTool includes an evaluation checklist to analyze existing workstations, a purchasing guide checklist to evaluate new purchases, and quick tip boxes to provide basic solutions for common hazards. A more in-depth look at computer workstation hazards and solutions can be found further down the page of each section.
OSHA eTools are Web-based products that provide guidance information for developing a comprehensive safety and health program. They include recommendations for good industry practice that often go beyond specific OSHA mandates, but do not create new OSHA requirements.
