As a technology worker, you have an obligation to take reasonable care of yourself and to ensure your actions do not put others at risk of a health and safety injury.
Technology workers, especially those on helpdesks, frequently use devices, including laptops and other smaller device, and undertake responsive or reactive work often with time constraints. The tasks carried out by a technology worker often impact the ability of other office workers to do their job.
The Office Safety tool can help you identify hazards and risks associated with the work you do so you can take positive action to keep yourself and others safe in the office.
Potential harm
- Anxiety
- Body stressing
- Musculoskeletal disorders
- Stress
Top risks
- Musculoskeletal disorders.
- Customer aggression.
- Electrical.
- Stress.
What you can do for yourself
As a technology worker, there are actions you can take.
- Avoid lifting and twisting while carrying heavy items. Use a trolley to move computers and peripheral equipment around.
- De-energise electrical equipment before you work on it.
- Avoid static discharge by using a strap that is grounded.
- Take breaks often, stay hydrated and eat properly.
- Ensure you have an appropriately adjusted office chair if sitting for long periods of time.
- Take every opportunity to take micro-pauses. These are short 10 second breaks where you relax your muscles, stretch and change posture.
- Use a headset if you are working on a helpdesk.
- Keep the client informed on progress when fixing faults - a client’s sense of urgency may be different to yours and keeping them up to date on progress may alleviate conflict.
Communication and consultation is vital to building a strong health and safety culture in the workplace. Ways you can contribute include to:
- contribute at meetings
- seek information from your intranet
- establish an open and constructive approach to talking to colleagues and managers
- give feedback on policy and procedures when asked.
What you can do for your team
- Take reasonable care to ensure that your behaviour and actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others.
What employers can do for technology workers
- Provide a work area where faulty equipment can be repaired.
- Provide adequate lighting, tools, electrostatic mitigation, workstation and workbenches at an appropriate height for technology workers.
- Provide training on proper lifting techniques.
- Implement an electrical safety policy that does not permit work on energised items.
- Set key performance indicators that allow workers adequate and realistic time to complete tasks.
More information
For more information, see:
- Employees and other workers for complete information on the role and duties of workers, and practical strategies.
- Ergonomic hazards for information on physical factors in the environment that may cause musculoskeletal injuries, such as sedentary work and slips, trips and falls, and how to eliminate these hazards.