Laptop health

Citation

(2001), "Laptop health", Work Study, Vol. 50 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ws.2001.07950caf.001

Laptop health

Laptop healthKeywords: Lap top computers, Health and safety, Research

Recent research on portable computers carried out on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has found that their extensive use in today's work activities is not associated with severe or novel health problems for their users. However, it did find that users can suffer discomfort and a number of steps are recommended to minimise this.

The report "Health and safety of portable display screen equipment" (CRR 304/2000) reports on:

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  the extent of usage of portable and handheld computers;

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  health problems and risk factors associated with their use;

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  what features should be designed into this equipment; and

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  what working practices should be adopted to minimise risks to health and safety.

Portables have become increasingly popular and now around one in every five computers purchased is a portable. However, the research suggests that there are no significantly different health and safety problems associated with this increased use – the researchers found very similar levels of health problems to those reported by users of full sized (desktop) PCs.

Perhaps not surprisingly, discomfort was correlated with the number of hours per week spent using any computer, with no significant difference between desktop and portable users. However, the researchers do point out that a direct comparison is difficult because the nature of the portable users' jobs (e.g. travelling about) meant that they spent a lower proportion of their overall work time operating a computer than desktop users.

Two specific aspects – in effect, "side effects" of using a portable computer – did appear to be associated with risk of musculoskeletal discomfort. These aspects were:

1. 1.

   the carrying of several heavy items (like bulky papers or peripheral devices such as printers, cables and batteries) along with the portable computer, gives rise to a risk of a manual handling injury;

2. 2.

   using a portable in less than ideal locations such as cars or hotels, can encourage poor posture.

The study findings show that users were aware of a range of risks associated with portable computer use, including the risk of theft and mugging as well as the risk of musculoskeletal disorders or eyestrain. Users also commented on the weight of their portables (which they would like reduced) and many suggested improvements that could be made to their design.

The researchers concluded that frequent breaks (or changes in task activity) are beneficial to users of both desktop and portable computers, as is training relevant to the particular computer work.

They go on to make a number of recommendations for designers of portables, such as:

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  keep the weight as low as possible;

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  provide a touch pad, rollerball or external mouse rather than a trackpoint ("nipple");

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  provide a detachable or height adjustable screen.

They also recommend that employers and managers whose staff use portables should take a number of steps (in addition to providing for training and breaks) such as:

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  encouraging staff to report any symptoms of discomfort;

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  carrying out manual handling risk assessments with portable users;

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  minimising use of portables in non-ideal locations; and

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  providing good facilities, such as external keyboards and monitors or docking stations, at workstations where portables will be in prolonged use.

The study concentrated on portable computers as the initial survey found that smaller, handheld devices were in much less frequent use. However the research did point up the need for handheld devices to be carefully selected for ergonomic features that match the requirements of the tasks to be done.