HP Pavilion XT545 Manual

Safety & Comfort Guide

Also available at www.hp.com/ergo

Document Part Number: 297660-002

This guide describes proper workstation setup, posture, and

health and work habits for computer users. In addition, this

guide contains electrical and mechanical safety information

applicable to all HP products.

Product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective companies.

Hewlett-Packard Company shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions

contained herein or for incidental or consequential damages in connection with the

furnishing, performance, or use of this material. The information in this document is

provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, including, but not limited to, the implied

warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, and is subject to

change without notice. The warranties for HP products are set forth in the express limited

warranty statements accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed

as constituting an additional warranty.

This document contains proprietary information that is protected by copyright. No part of

this document may be photocopied, reproduced, or translated to another language

without the prior written consent of Hewlett-Packard Company.

ÅWARNING: Text set off in this manner indicates that failure to follow directions could

result in bodily harm or loss of life.

ÄCAUTION: Text set off in this manner indicates that failure to follow directions could result

in damage to equipment or loss of information.

Safety & Comfort Guide

Second Edition (September 2002)

Document Part Number: 297660-002

Safety & Comfort Guide iii

WARNING

There may be a risk of serious physical injuries from

working at your computer workstation. Read and follow

the recommendations in this

Safety & Comfort Guide

minimize the risk of injury and to increase your comfort

Some studies have suggested that long periods of typing,

improper workstation setup, incorrect work habits,

stressful work conditions and relationships, or problems in

your personal health may be linked to injuries. These

injuries could include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis,

tenosynovitis, and other musculoskeletal disorders.

The warning signs of these disorders can occur in the

hands, wrists, arms, shoulders, neck, or back, and can

include:

❒Numbness, burning, or tingling

❒Soreness, aching, or tenderness

❒Pain, throbbing, or swelling

❒Tightness or stiffness

❒Weakness or coldness

Symptoms may be felt during typing, while using a mouse,

or at other times when no work with the hands is being

performed, including during the night when these

symptoms might awaken you. If you experience these

symptoms, or any other persistent or recurring pain or

discomfort that you think may be related to using a

computer, you should promptly consult a qualified

physician and, if available, your company’s health and

safety department. The earlier a problem is properly

diagnosed and treated, the less chance there is that it will

progress to a disabling condition.

The following pages describe proper workstation setup,

posture, and health and work habits for computer users.

In addition, this Guide contains product safety information

applicable to all HP products.

iv Safety & Comfort Guide

Warning

Safety & Comfort Guide v

Contents

Warning

1 Promoting a Safe and Comfortable

Work Environment

Important Choices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1–2

2 Finding Your Comfort Zone

A Range of Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–2

Feet, Knees, and Legs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

Back. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–4

Shoulders and Elbows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–5

Forearms, Wrists, and Hands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–6

Eyes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–8

3 Arranging Your Work Area

Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–2

Keyboard and Pointing Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–4

Arm Supports and Palm Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–6

Papers and Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–8

Phone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3–9

4 Working in Comfort

Using a Notebook Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–2

Typing Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–3

Pointing Style. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–4

Using a Keyboard on a Sofa or Bed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–5

Taking Breaks and Varying Your Tasks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–6

Monitoring Your Health Habits and Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–7

5 Organizing Your Adjustments

From the Ground Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–1

From the Top Down . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5–1

6 Your Safety & Comfort Checklist

Seated Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–1

Shoulders, Arms, Wrists, and Hands. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–1

Eyes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–2

Typing Style . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–2

Keyboard and Pointing Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3

vi Safety & Comfort Guide

Contents

Monitor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–3

Notebook Computer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–4

General Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6–4

7 Electrical and Mechanical

Safety Information

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–1

Product Safety Policy and General Practice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–1

Installation Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–2

General Precautions for HP Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–3

Precautions for Portable Computer Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–6

Precautions for Server and Network Products. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–7

Precautions for Products with Hot-Pluggable Power Supplies . . . . . . . 7–9

Precautions for Products with External Television Antenna Connectors 7–9

Precautions for Products with Modems,

Telecommunications, or Local Area

Network Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–11

Precautions for Products with Laser Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–11

Symbols on Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7–13

Appendix

For More Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A–1

Safety & Comfort Guide 1–1

PROMOTING ASAFE AND COMFORTABLE

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Adjust into Your Comfort Zone

Whether you are an adult sharing a computer at work,

or a student sharing a computer at school or at home,

each time you sit down, adjust the environment to your

needs. Adjust the tilt of your monitor, use a box as a

footrest, a blanket on the seat to raise your chair

height—whatever you need to adjust into your comfort

zone.

1–2 Safety & Comfort Guide

Promoting a Safe and Comfortable Work Environment

Important Choices

Posture, lighting, furniture, work organization, and other

work conditions and habits cay affect the way you feel and

how well you work. By adjusting your work environment

and personal practices, you may be able to minimize

fatigue and discomfort, and reduce the risk of resulting

strains that some scientists believe can lead to injury.

Whenever you use a computer, you make choices that

can affect your comfort and potentially your safety. This is

true whether you use a desktop keyboard and monitor in

an office, notebook computer in a college dormitory,

wireless keyboard on your lap, or handheld at the airport.

In every case, you choose your working posture and your

body’s position relative to your computer, phone,

reference books, and papers. You may also have some

control over lighting and other factors.

Take Action for Safety and Comfort

Many factors in our work environment determine whether

we work efficiently and in a manner that promotes good

health and safety. By considering, acting on, and

periodically reevaluating the recommendations in this

Guide, it is possible to create a safer, more comfortable,

healthful, and efficient work environment.

Students and Teachers

The recommendations in this Guide apply to students of

all ages. Learning to adjust your work area and finding

your comfort zone when you first learn to use a computer

is a lot easier than trying to break incorrect work habits

after years of computer use. Teachers, have your

students work in teams to find inventive solutions when

adjustable furniture designed for computer use is not

available.

IMPORTANT

Some scientists

believe that working

intensely, or for a

long time in

uncomfortable or

unnatural positions,

may pose risks,

such as those

mentioned in the

Warning at the

beginning of this

Guide.

The

information included

in this Guide is

designed to help you

work more safely by

recommending ways

to work more

comfortably and

effectively.

TIP

Self check

After reviewing the

information in

Chapters 1 through

5, double-check your

postures and habits

using Chapter 6,

“Your Safety &

Comfort Checklist.”

Safety & Comfort Guide 1–3

Promoting a Safe and Comfortable Work Environment

Key Principles

To promote safety and comfort, follow these principles whenever

you use your computer.

ADJUST

◆Adjust your body position and your work

equipment.

◆There is no one “right” position. Find your

comfort zone, as described in this Guide,

and when working at your computer,

frequently adjust within this zone.

MOVE

◆Vary your tasks so that you can move

around; avoid sitting in one posture all day.

◆Perform tasks that require walking.

RELAX

◆Build positive relationships at work and

home. Relax and strive to reduce sources of

stress.

◆Stay aware of physical tension such as

clenching your muscles and shrugging your

shoulders. Continually release tension.

◆Take frequent, short breaks.

1–4 Safety & Comfort Guide

Promoting a Safe and Comfortable Work Environment

LISTEN

◆Listen to your body.

◆Pay attention to any tension, discomfort, or

pain you may feel, and take immediate

action to relieve it.

REMEMBER

◆Exercise regularly and maintain general

fitness; this will help your body withstand the

rigors of sedentary work.

◆Respect any medical conditions you may

have or other known health factors. Adjust

your work habits to accommodate them.

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