READING COMPREHENSION

As the ntimher of people who work w i th con1pltters has risen, so wor..Lfl..ries aboui possihle harmftil effects have
grown. Now the risks of eye strain froni the glare of screens and inuscular injuries froni constant tapping at key hoards are
to he rccogiiised hy a new Iaw.
Lrom Jaiiuary 1, a European directive, called Work with Display Screen Equipiiient, wilI he implcniented in Britain tu
attack laiy employers who fail tu create a hcalthy and safe working environrnent. It wiII deal with eyesight risks, physical
probIerns and mental strcss, and ohliges employers tu assess their crnployees comnputers, fumniture, otfices and working
practices.
Too few employets have prepared for this change, however. The governrncnts Health ami Safety Executive has hardly
a~y resources for puhlicising the new law, and its principal ergonomist,~ Dr Col in
Mackay, admits that ~there are bound tu be organisations thai havent a clue that this is going tu happen,
Understandably, the bulk of the publicity has been generated hy manufacturers with ergonomic furniture or low radiation
screens tu sell. This has focused attention un the equipment, at the expense of issues such as working practices and software
design.
Of course, having the right equipment s essenttal. But if used badlytoo intensively, badly adjusted, hadly serviced, in
the wrong light and so un even the best equipment will not prevent problems such as muscle and tendon injuries, backache,
headaches and mental stress.
The equivalent would be having a car tuned and serviced, then driving it nonstop for eight hours a day, with a dirty
windscreen and your knees jammed
against the steering wheel.
Many problems stem from ignorance and laek of forethought. The general problem is that computers have just been
dumped un peoples desks. says Trevor Shaw, an ergonomist empluyed by Cleveland county council. Neither users nor
managers have given much cunsidertiofl tu what changes should hc made tu their working cnvirunrncnt.
Focusing un cquipment has scared many cmployers lino thinking they will have tu shell out vast sums un new hardware.
For many, however, simple measures such as turning screens away from windows tu avoid glare, teaching users how tu
adjust chairs, or re-allocating work so nobody spends too much time at a computer, may be enuugh.
Rest breaks from the computer need not mean coffee breaks. StatT can do uther

work, such as manning the phone, opening the post or filling the photocopier.
Ovcrall, employers should see the new law not as an imposition, but as an opportunity to abandon thc production une
mentality of coniputerised offices in favour of a more cornfortable, more productive way of working.
Mackey says: If you say ~whats the minimurn Ive got to doto comply, it will probably backfire and youll have ah
kinds of industrial relations problems. lf you do it properly. itll help you operatc more efficiently.
Alt new cquipment installed after ianuary 1, must comply with the regulations. The onus for inspcction and imple-
mentation is on employers. Users must be given training in health and safcty matters and the use of the systcm. Jobs must
ahlow periodic breaks and changes of activity to reduce time spent at the screen. There are also rules on equipment, such as
separate keyboards, flicker-free screens, adjustable chairs, adequate desks, footrests, document holders, and even window
hhinds. Equiprnent already in use before January 1 necd not comply until 1996; but it must be assesscd straight away.
Anyone with douhts about computer health and safety should consult a doctor or other expert.
* ergc)nonzixt: sonwone who studies how working

condjtjon., tnacl,ines mcl equipment can he

c,rranged So tl~at pecmple can work more efficiently

Frorn The Sundax Times

25 Dr 0dm Mackay is concerned that sorne employers

A dont know about the new Iaw.

B dont care about the new law.
C are very worried about the new law.
D wont be able to obey the new Iaw.

26 Most of the publicity about the new Iaw so far has concentrated Qn
A office design.
B office equipment.
o new working practices.
D new computer software.

27 A000rding to the articie, problems can arise when office equipment is not

A replaced frequently.
B switched 0ff frequently.
 oused in the right conditions.
D connected correctly.
28 The writer explains that many problems
could be solved by
A spending a large amount of money.
B giving staff more coffee breaks.
o sending staff on training
D making small changes to working
practices.

29 Dr Mackay believes that obeying the new Iaw fully wiIl Iead to
A fewer mental breakdowns.
B more industrial relations problems.
o Iower costs.
D greater efficiency.

30 From January lst, all existing equipment must

A meet the new regulations.

B be adapted to meet the new regulations.
O be checked to see if it meets the new regulations.
D be replaced with equipment which meets the new regulations.

CLOZE

New 20 note to prevent forgeries

THE CENTRAL BANK (0) ki~ had to introduce a new 320 note to prevent (16) unintended privatisation
of the note printing business by forgers, the Governor of the Central Bank, Mr Maurice Doyle, said when he
unveiled the note in Dublin yesterday. It is (17) introduced to combat the increasing banknote forgery which
has come about in recent years as a result of developments (18) photocopying and printing, he said. (19)
with access to a high quality colour photocopier and the correct paper (20) . make a copy of the old /320 note
that was good enough to (21) passed unnoticed (22) a crowded shop counter, he said. Although forgery
problems in Ireland are not comparable (23) those of the major international currencies, such as the dollar,
the Irish 320 note has some close cousms said Mr Doyle.

The new note, which comes (24) circulation on Monday, incorporates several features that will
(25) it harder to forge. It has a watermark incorporating the number 20 and a silver security thread which
shows when the note is held up to the light. It also incorporates a hidden image of the letters IR, which can only
be (26) when the note is tilted towards the light, and microprinting (27) the front and reverse. The note
also contains features that will enable visually impaired people to recognise it. They include a mark that can be
felt (28) the fingertips. (29) note in the new series will be (30) a different size and be printed on
different paper to give it a different feel.

From The Irish Times