Health Hazards

These pages assemble the available advice:

Medical problems known collectively as Repetitive Strain Injury or RSI.

Special conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome

Your working environment and office equipment.

	How to you check the set-up of your working environment
	Are you sitting comfortably?
	Input devices for communicating with your computer

Eyes and how they work

Why and when we need glasses

Over the next few months, with each contribution, Healthy Computing will build into another work of reference for writers from WritersServices.com.

You have to interpret all the information sensibly

	People, computers, desks, rooms and chairs are all built differently.
	You will frequently find that you cannot obey all the 'rules' you are given.

But, if you absorb the information from this series, it will help you recognise potential problems and point yourself in the direction of a solution.

There is a golden rule. 'If it hurts or aches, you need to change something in your working environment.' If the problem persists, seek expert help. Do not ignore the problem. It will not go away by itself.

These pages are devoted to preventing RSI. Cure is difficult once damage has been done.

'No pain, no gain' might be fine for bodybuilders who accept the consequences. It also works for athletes exercising their cardio-vascular system who, along with their trainer, know what they are doing. It is the wrong motto for the writer. You will experience enough pain from the frequent rejection of your creative work without adding to it with physical pain.

About the compiler

Charles Jones has contributed many articles about the working environment based on the research for his book The Computer Handbook (Macmillan 1985). He has survived 30 years at the computer keyboard by practicing what he preaches!