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Health and Safety Using ICT Tools

UNIT 5
Health and Safety using ICT Tools.
Uses of ICT Tools
Information and Communicating Technology (ICT) tools are computer-based equipment used for processing data and communication. Some ICT tools are






  1. Television
  2. Public Address System
  3. Radio
  4. Mobile Phone
  5. Computer

ICT tools are very useful in many other ways. We watch television programs for entertainment, education and information. The Public Address System is used for making community announcements by amplifying the voice of the user. The radio presents programs, music and discussions that keep us informed and entertained. The Mobile phone helps us to stay in touch with our friends, family and colleagues and finally the computer enables us to surf the Internet and communicate with other people online, it is also a form of entertainment because we can use it to watch movies and listen to music as well. Computers can also be used in businesses for communicating, desktop publication, sound editing.
Although it is unlikely that using ICT equipment will be dangerous in itself, it can be used in ways which can be a hazard to our health. In this lesson you will learn about the possible long-term health hazards associated with the use of ICT equipment and ways to avoid these health problems.
It is important to note that although ICT makes our lives easier, long term exposure to ICT equipment without precaution may lead to possible health hazards in future. Here are some of the possible health hazards.

Safety precautions for the use of ICT Tools.

What are the negative effects of long term exposure to television?
Your eyes are not suited for staring into the television set for hours. Staring into the television set for hours can be dangerous and harmful to the eye. By staring continuously you cause the eye to overwork itself and this may lead to eye irritation, such as dry eye, red, itchy, and watery eyes, fatigue, including heaviness of the eyelids or forehead; and difficulty in focusing the eyes.
Negative effects of improperly using the Computer.
Eye irritation and Eye fatigue.
The negative effects of using a computer do not differ greatly from that of the television. Staring at the monitor for more than two hours a day can lead to eye irritation, such as watery eyes, heaviness of the eyelids or forehead, difficulty in focusing the eyes and fatigue of the eye structures etc. It is therefore important to keep a distance of 20 to 26 inches away from the monitor and arrange your lights sources in order to prevent reflections or glare on the monitor screen.
Lower Back Pain
Sitting behind the computer for long periods or using the wrong kind of chair can also lead to problems in the future. It can lead to pain in the lumbar region of the back.
Wrist Pain
People may also experience wrist pains usually because their hands are not positioned properly when typing. Pains in the back, wrists or fingers often occur when you are not able to reach the keyboard and mouse whilst bending your elbows at 90 degrees, with your shoulders relaxed.
Cold and Flu
People who work for many hours in air-conditioned rooms may suffer from cold and flu.
Mobile phones and our Health.

It is believed that mobile phones can affect the health of people who use them. Research from Finland suggests that mobile phone radiation causes changes in the brain and even low level emissions from headsets are still damaging. However, there has not been any major research that provides scientific evidence of the danger of using mobile phones. It is therefore too soon to reach a definitive verdict on health risk from mobile phones. Nevertheless there are some effects that you can have when you do not use the mobile phone properly.

Some of the long-term health effects are:
1. Headaches and tiredness.
Using the mobile phone for hours can be very stressful and may lead to mild or severe headaches.

2. Creates joint pain.
Holding the mobile phone to your ear for more than 15 minutes can lead to a strain of your wrist and ligaments in the back of the hand.

3. Mobile phone battery explosion.
It is not advisable to use your mobile phone whilst charging it. Sometimes mobile phone batteries over heat and explode in such cases. You can be seriously injured if this happens to you.

4. Induced ringing! In the ears.
You can overwork your ear-drum when you hold the mobile phone very close to your ear. Keeping the mobile phone close to your ear for long periods of time may weaken your eardrums, induce ringing in your ears and eventually damage your hearing abilities in future.
Some negative effects of listening to loud sounds from the radio.

The radio is an interesting source of information and entertainment. Nowadays radio's come in handy. The pocket radio is widely used in Ghana. You can find people walking around with the radio's sets or headphones in their ears. Some people enjoy it when their radio volume is turned up to the highest level. Although this seems very entertaining, it is dangerous to your health because loud sounds tend to weaken your eardrums which may affect your hearing in future.


Public Address Systems

Loud sounds from Public Address Systems are also harmful to the human ear. Loud and prolonged sounds emitted from this equipment can cause hearing loss in the long run.

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