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.

© 2002 Hewlett-Packard Company
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
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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
Å
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 to
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
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.