Safety Alerts and Lessons Learned
ETA Safety Alerts are made available as a quick source of information on a specific safety or environmental topic that may be of interest. Safety Alerts are organized by category. There is also a search function. If you can't find what you need, please contact the ETA Safety Manager, Ron Scholtz X8137.
Working directly on a laptop can pose safety risks since you may bend your neck unnaturally and have your hands and arms positioned awkwardly. Working directly on the laptop has resulted in several injuries at Berkeley Lab. Learn how to work safely on a laptop.
RSIGuard is a break reminder software available for free to all Berkeley Lab Mac and PC users. It is customizable and includes a ‘smart timer’ that is based on the amount of typing and mousing. It can provide cues for those times you get in the zone and forget to move or change positions often enough. Learn more about using RSIGuard.
Working with the body in a neutral position reduces stress and strain on the muscles, tendons, and skeletal system and reduces your risk of developing a musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). Learn more about how to prevent repetitive motion injuries.
Ergonomic risk and discomfort levels are determined when personnel complete EHS0058 “Ergonomic Self-Assessment Training." In some cases, the risk is identified as “high” and/or the discomfort level can be identified as “frequent” or “constant.” This is can be triggered by factors such as exclusive use of laptop computers or poor workstation set-up. Learn about how to reduce your recorded risk or discomfort levels.
A recent incident occurred on a sit-stand desk in which a power cord dislodged from the control box and unseated the receptacle exposing “live” terminals. This condition could have caused an electrical shock to a person if handled. Learn how to properly manage sit-stand desk cables.
Check out the “1 Minute 4 Safety” slide library designed to assist Berkeley Lab employees in conducting discussions on the environment, safety, and health topics
Search and contribute to Berkeley Lab's lessons learned library