Stress
This is a major factor in work-related illness. Symptoms can include headaches, stomach ulcers, sleeplessness and
loss of appetite.
ICT systems put additional pressure on employees:
•  They may be used to monitor performance.
•  They induce fear and panic particularly in older people.
•  Constantly bring about the need to perform new tasks that you may not be able to cope with.
•  It can be impossible to escape them.
•  Information overload.
•  New software can be difficult to use

RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury)
Caused by excess use of a keyboard, mouse and even mobile phones (used for texting) and can usually affect the
hands, wrists, elbows, arms, shoulders and / or neck. It can be very painful and debilitating. Once it develops, it
tends to recur. This is caused by repeated similar movements and incorrect use of the keyboard, i.e. resting the
wrists on the desk whilst typing. Many laptops have a built in wrist rest due to the positioning of the keyboard
and are therefore better to use. Ways of reducing RSI is to have a wrist rest, take frequent breaks and have the
keyboard at the right height.

Eyestrain
Brought on by long hours spent in front of a screen. Although there is no evidence that computers cause
permanent damage, they do accelerate current problems.

Factors that could contribute to eyestrain are:
•  Glare from lighting affecting the screen.
•  Lighting that shines directly on the screen or causes shadows.
•  Constantly refocusing – i.e. looking down at a paper and back to the screen.
•  Sitting too close to the screen – should be about 2 – 3 feet away.

Eyestrain can be prevented or reduced by taking regular breaks from working at the computer, every 10 minutes
or so looking into the distance and therefore relaxing the muscles of the eye, use blinds to reduce the glare on the
screen and sit at least 3 feet from the screen.