Part 2

You should spend about 20 minutes on Questions 15-27, which are based on Reading Passage 2 below.

Maintaining a safe environment for employees working on computers

Under health and safety law, you must ensure that the working environment meets certain minimum requirements

Workstation furniture

The work desk or work surface should be big enough to allow the user to arrange the screen, keyboard and documents, etc. in a flexible way. It should be stable and positioned so that it’s comfortable when an employee uses a document holder, but also big enough to let the user work comfortably and to alter their position.

The working environment

You need to assess noise levels. The equipment shouldn’t be so noisy that it distracts the user. If you can’t use quieter equipment, consider soundproofing or moving the equipment.You could use partitions between noisy equipment and the rest of the workstation as an alternative.

Lighting is also an important consideration. Surrounding windows must have curtains or blinds which users can adjust to prevent reflected glare. If needed, provide users with lighting appropriate to their tasks and particular workstation.Users should have control over their lighting to prevent reflected glare.

Temperature-wise, the equipment should not give out so much heat that the user becomes uncomfortable, so monitor this. It’s also important that you maintain ventilation,and you control humidity so that it is at a level which keeps the user comfortable.

Task design and rest breaks

Good design of the task can be as important as the right choice of furniture and equipment. Whenever possible you should design jobs so that employees have a mix of activities and some control over which tasks they perform and when. You should match staffing levels to workload so that individuals are neither overworked nor underworked and give employees some say in the way work is carried out and the planning that goes into it.

An employee’s need for rest breaks will vary depending on the type of work they are doing and how intensely they are working. As a general rule, however, short, frequent breaks are better than longer, less frequent ones.A 5-10-minute break after 50-60 minutes’ work is better than a 15-20-minute break after two hours.The employee should, at times, have a choice over when to take breaks and they should be encouraged to do non-work activities during their break, ideally away from the workstation.

Questions 15 – 20

Complete the notes below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in each gap.

Furniture

Desk size should facilitate.

·the flexible arrangement of computer items

·the easy use of a holder for documents

·change in the user’s

Environment

Employers should

·move, soundproof, or separate noisy equipment using

·reduce glare from nearby

e.g., using adjustable blinds

·provide suitable lighting

·ensure a comfortable temperature

check

from equipment

-check air flow and quality in working area

Tasks and breaks

Employees should have

·a variety of tasks to choose from

·a fair workload

·An input into task achievement and

·regular, short breaks, at times of their own

·breaks not located at their workstation

Using portable ladders

Workers use portable ladders for a variety of jobs outside, such as first- and second-floor window cleaning and building repairs

Employers need to oversee all ladders that are owned by their company. Detailed visual inspections should be carried out on a regular basis, and they should have an up-to-date record of these. Before starting a job, employers are also responsible for ensuring any ladder is the right length to meet the needs of the task; reaching out from the very top of a ladder is highly dangerous.Once you get a ladder, you, as user of the ladder, should conduct a pre-use check each working day. Conducting pre-use checks should have been part of your training and should be done in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. When doing a check, it is important to focus on the steps and make sure they are not loose as this could cause an accident. Similarly, a cracked joint in the ladder could cause it to fail.

Almost all falls from ladders happen because the ladder moves unexpectedly. The key factor in preventing falls from ladders is to ensure your ladder is stable whilst being used.First, make sure that you choose level ground on which to set up your ladder.There are specially designed tools you can use to ensure this – don’t just use a piece of wood.Second, check the ground surface is dirt-free and solid, so the feet can grip and the ladder doesn’t sink.

Before you go up your ladder, look at the surrounding environment. Make sure the ladder cannot be struck by vehicles. If necessary, safeguard the area by placing red and white cones around it. Ensure it will not be pushed over by other hazards such as opening doors. Doors and windows may need to be secured where possible.

Finally, think about the hazards to the general public and make sure they cannot walk underneath it or get too near to it. A ‘danger’ sign at the base is often the best way of doing this.

To secure the ladder, tie it to a suitable point, such as a window or railing, making sure both sides are attached.Where this is not practical, secure it to the wall near the base of the ladder with ties; avoid using blocks to wedge the ladder in place as they can easily move.

Questions 21 – 27

Complete the sentences below.

Choose ONE WORD ONLY from the passage for each answer. Write your answers in each gap.

Safe ladder use

Employers should keep a 21__________________ of ladder safety inspections.

Employers should check the 22__________________of a ladder is suitable for the job.

The 23__________________and joints of the ladder need particularly close inspection.

Make sure the 24__________________ of the ladder are resting on a clean, hard surface.

Protect the ladder from vehicles by using 25__________________.

Use 26__________________to keep people away from the ladder.

Keep the ladder in place using ties, rather than 27__________________.

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