How to choose the right computer equipment for your business to increase your productivity and efficiency without it costing the earth.
Business software helps you complete a range of tasks. Choose the right software, provide support and train your staff with our introduction.
It is highly likely that you depend on the internet for some aspects of your business. Find out how you can use the internet more effectively.
Good communication with customers, partners and suppliers is vital for business success. This summary explores business communication methods.
How would you cope if your IT system failed or was breached? We cover the main IT security issues and how to protect against them.
Good IT management can help you choose, use and implement IT. Our overview helps you manage IT in a way that maximises the return on your investment.
IT support is vital if you rely on your IT system. But how can you set up an effective safety net in case things go wrong? We explore the options.
Getting the right IT is just the first step. Appropriate training, policies and working practices can help you maximise return on your IT investment.
It's important you think about computer health and safety in your office, because technology can create a number of health and safety issues in your business.
Thankfully, appropriate computer equipment, a bit of training and common sense are enough to satisfy most of your obligations and concerns about computer health and safety.
Most computer health and safety concerns involve bad ergonomics. Problems like repetitive strain injury (RSI), aches, pains and numbness can be caused by poor-quality keyboards and mice or badly adjusted chairs.
Some people find looking at monitors and displays for long periods can cause eye-strain or headaches too.
However, there are other issues to be aware of. As with all electrical equipment, computers can be dangerous when used incorrectly or if turned on with the case open. Trailing cables can also be hazardous.
Installing and maintaining computer hardware can involve physical risks. For example, your staff should be careful when running cabling above a suspended ceiling or placing network equipment into confined spaces.
Although suffering a serious injury while working with IT is unlikely, computer health and safety problems can be persistent. Employees may be forced to take time off or prevented from using computers at all.
Practicing good computer health and safety will ensure the well-being of everyone in your business when they use IT. You should always aim to minimise risks, but there are specific legal requirements too. For instance, if an employee works with display screen equipment, you are required to pay for them to have regular eyesight tests if they ask you to.
Failing to take adequate computer health and safety precautions can signal to employees that you're not bothered about their welfare. And the legal obligations mean you could also be at risk of paying out damages should any computer health and safety problems arise.
Taking care of IT and computer health and safety should be part of your overall health and safety strategy. Make sure someone has responsibility for it. Give them the power and budget to provide adequately for your staff.
You cannot afford to be complacent. Every workplace can pose some risk including apparently low-risk offices. Carry out a thorough IT risk assessment to understand where the dangers lie in your company. Be systematic: start with a list of the most common IT problems and speak to your employees to identify any you may have missed.
Once you've carried out your IT risk assessment, identify a solution to each issue you find. For instance, if employees are using laptops for long periods of time, you should provide them with a keyboard, mouse and monitor to make their work more comfortable.
You should have an IT policy explaining computer health and safety best practice. Set out what equipment employees should have access to and how they can address issues. Again, someone in your business should be responsible for this – make sure your staff know who.
Give all employees training in the basics of setting up and using computer equipment. It's particularly important everyone understands how to adjust their chair, keyboard, mouse and screen properly.
Encourage people to speak up if they're worried about computer health and safety. Minor physical ailments tend to become major ones if not addressed early, so make it easy for people to raise concerns.
