REGULATIONS ON SAFETY AND HEALTH PROTECTION WHEN WORKING WITH A COMPUTER

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1.

These Regulations lay down requirements regarding safety and health protection when working with a computer.

The provisions of this Ordinance shall be appropriately applied to work at the worker’s home or in another premises, which is not the premises of the employer.

Article 2.

A workplace with a computer should not be a source of danger of injury and damage to the health of workers.

The requirements for ensuring conditions for working in a safe manner in a workplace with a computer are set out in the Annex, which is an integral part of this Regulation.

Article 3.

The terms in this Regulation have the following meanings:

(a) “screen” means any computer alphanumeric or graphicdisplay, regardless of the mode of representation;

b) “workplace with a computer” includes:

– a computer with a display, a keyboard and/or an input device and/or software, which represents the link between the device and the worker,

–Accessories

– outdoor units that have floppy disk or other drive, phone, modem, printer, etc.,

– template holder,

– working chair,

– desk or desktop,

– an environment that has an immediate impact on the workplace,

– work tasks of workers,

(c) “worker” means a person who, in carrying out his work, uses a computer with a display for a total of 4 or more hours during the working day.

Article 4.

The provisions of this Regulation do not apply to:

(a) driving cabs and cabs from which vehicles or machinery are operated;

b) computer systems on means of transport,

(c) computer systems intended for public use;

(d) portable computers that are not intended for permanent work in the workplace;

e) calculating machinery, cash registers and equipment with a small screen, which display data or measurement results and which are an auxiliary for specific work operations;

f) typewriters of common constructions with a small screen.

II. OBLIGATIONS OF THE EMPLOYER

Article 5.

The employer is obliged to make a hazard assessment for all workplaces with a computer, bearing in mind the possible dangers of impairing the health of workers, especially due to visual, statodynamic and psychological effort.

The employer must, on the basis of a hazard assessment, carry out measures to remedy the identified deficiencies, taking into account the specific and/or combined effects of the hazards and hazards identified.

Employers who employ up to 50 workers can make their own hazard assessment related to working with a computer, which is submitted for certification to an authorized institution or company for safety at work, and employers who employ over 50 workers in accordance with the provisions of the Ordinance on the preparation of hazard assessment.

Article 6.

The employer shall ensure that the posts comply with the requirements set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 7.

The employer shall ensure that workers are made aware of all the circumstances and requirements relating to the safety and health protection at work with the computer, in particular of the measures taken pursuant to Articles 5, 6. and 8. this rulebook.

The employer must ensure that workers are trained to work in a safe manner at the first deployment to the workplace, and before any change that could affect safety and health in that workplace is implemented.

Article 8.

In order to reduce the burden when working with the screen, the employer must, on the basis of the measures referred to in Article 5. item 2 plan the activities of workers in such a way that the work with the screen during work periodically alternates with other activities. If there is no possibility of changing the activity of the worker, i.e. the worker does not have spontaneous interruptions during work, the employer, depending on the severity of work tasks and the consequent visual and statodynamic effort during each hour of work, must provide him with rest periods of at least 5 minutes and organize relief exercises.

The method of conducting rest and exercises must be appropriate to professional doctrines in accordance with the recommendations of occupational health specialists.

Article 9.

The employer shall provide workers or their representatives with all necessary information on safety and health at work at work, including the importance of changing the activity or rest, and its operation, with a particular focus on the specific hazards of that workplace.

In addition to informing workers under paragraph 1. in this Article, the employer must consult workers on all important issues related to safety and health in the workplace, in the manner and to the extent laid down in the Occupational Safety Act.

Article 10

As part of preventive examinations, the employer must ensure an examination of the worker’s vision with an occupational medicine specialist:

– before starting employment in the workplace with a computer,

– at least every two years for workers using correction aids,

– at the request of workers, due to problems that could result from working with a computer, i.e. with the screen.

Workers shall have the right to have a vision examination with an ophthalmologist if, during the examination referred to in paragraph 1. This article shows that a specialist examination is required.

The necessary financial resources for the implementation of the measures referred to in this Article shall not be at the expense of workers.

III. TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 11

A new workplace or one equipped with a computer must meet the requirements for safety and health protection laid down in these Regulations within two years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

Article 12

The employer must adapt the existing workplace that is in use on the date of entry into force of this Ordinance to the requirements laid down in this Ordinance within four years from the date of entry into force of this Ordinance.

Article 13

Obligations under the provisions of Article 5 and 10. these Regulations shall begin to run within two years from the date of entry into force of this Regulation.

Article 14

This Regulation shall enter into force on the eighth day following its publication in the “Official Gazette”.

Class: 115-01/04-01/14

Your number: 526-08-05-6

Zagreb, 10. [Getty Images]

Minister

Branko Vukelić, v. r.

ADVERB

REQUIREMENTS TO BE MET BY THE POSITION REFERRED TO IN ARTICLE 3. POLICY

1. EQUIPMENT

a) Generally

Workplace equipment shall not be a source of risk of injury or damage to the health of workers.

b) Screen

1. The distance of the screen from the eyes of the worker shall not be less than 500 mm, but again not so much as to create difficulties for the worker to read the data from the screen. The image on the screen should not flicker and the refresh rate of the screen image must be at least 75 Hz for CRT displays and 60 Hz for LCD displays.

2. The signs on the screen must be large enough, sharp and shaped in such a way that they can be distinguished. Characters, spaces between characters and lines must be large enough, that it is possible to distinguish them effortlessly, but not too large for the text to be viewed.

3. The brightness and contrast on the screen must be adjustable, so that the worker can adapt them without difficulty to the state of the working environment.

4. The screen must be movable, so that the worker can adapt his direction and tilt to the ergonomic requirements of the work.

5. The possibility of adjusting the height of the screen to the height of the worker’s eyes must be ensured, so that the workers’ eyes are at the height of the upper edge of the screen, the direction of view in the same plane or slanted downwards up to 20°.

6. There should be no glare on the screen, as it reduces the readability of signs and causes eye fatigue.

7. The screen must be clean, so that the image on the screen is clear and the text is legible.

c) Keyboard

1. The median height of the keyboard shall not exceed 30 mm, its bevel shall not exceed 15°, and if its lower edge is higher than 1.5 cm, an extension is required to serve as a fist pad. The keyboard must be freely mobile throughout the desktop, so that it allows the worker to hold his body and hands naturally. The ability to move and adjust the keyboard must not be limited by the means of connection or the length of the cable.

2. On the workbench or desktop in front of the buttons shall be at least 100 mm of free surface to accommodate the hands of the worker.

3. The keyboard should not have a glossy surface.

4. Keyboard key layout and key characteristics must meet ergonomic requirements.

5. The keys and symbols on the keys shall be clearly marked and shall be easily identifiable and legible.

d) Workbench or desktop

1. The workbench or desktop shall not glitter and shall be made of material which is not cold to the touch.

2. The surface of the table or desktop shall be sufficiently spacious to allow adequate arrangement of the screen, keyboard, written pads and other equipment, and that there is sufficient space to handle the mouse.

3. There must be enough free space under the table for comfortable seating.

4. The workbench or working surface shall be stable and, if possible, height-adjustable.

5. The template holder must be stable, adjustable and must be constructed and positioned in such a way that it does not additionally burden the eyes, neck and/or head.

e) Working chair

1. The working chair shall be stable and shall provide the worker with a comfortable position and unhindered movement.

2. The height of the work chair seat must be adjustable.

3. The backrest must be a support for the entire back, adjustable in pitch and height.

4. Footrest must be provided to any worker who wishes to do so. The footrest must be high and stable enough, it must allow for a comfortable foot position and a slope of the legs and should not have a slippery surface.

2. WORKING ENVIRONMENT

a) Space requirements

1. The requirements relating to working premises shall be established in accordance with a specific regulation.

2. The workplace shall be designed in such a way that the worker does not work in a forced non-physiological position.

3. There shall be sufficient free space in the workplace so that the worker can easily change his position and perform the necessary movements when working.

b) Illumination

1. Natural or artificial lighting shall ensure satisfactory illumination already according to the type of operation of at least 300 lux.

2. Disruptive glare and display reflections shall be prevented by appropriately placing the elements of the workplace in relation to the layout and technical characteristics of the light source.

3. Rows of ceiling lamps must be parallel to the direction of view of workers in the workplace. The screen must be adjusted and tilted so that there is no mirroring of the lamp on the screen. Lamps in the workroom must have such light technical characteristics that they do not cause mirroring on the screen.

c) Glare and glare

1. The workplace shall be so designed and positioned that light sources, windows, other openings or bright surfaces do not cause immediate glare or distracting mirroring on the screen.

2. Windows must have adequate curtains (shutters) to prevent sunlight from entering the workplace (or into the space so as not to interfere with work).

3. The display shall not be facing the source or away from the light source, otherwise special measures against glare and mirroring are required.

d) Noise

The noise of equipment and other sources in the room should not interfere with work and should not exceed 60 dBA.

e) Microclimatic conditions

Microclimate conditions must meet the requirements for thermal comfort when working without physical stress (temperature 20 – 24 °C).

If air conditioning is used, the humidity should be between 40 and 60%, the air flow rate should not exceed 0.2 m /s, and in the warm period the temperature of the room can be no more than 7 °C lower than the outside temperature.

f) Radiation

All electromagnetic radiation, except visible radiation, from the point of view of protecting the health of workers must comply with positive regulations.

3. SOFTWARE

When designing, selecting, ordering and modifying software and shaping work tasks when working with a computer, the employer must take into account the following principles:

a) The software must be such that the work task can be performed.

b) The software must be easy to use and adapted to the level of knowledge and experience of the worker.

(c) The system shall provide the worker with feedback on the performance of his or her work tasks.

(d) The form and speed of the system information must be adapted to the worker.

e) Software must meet ergonomic requirements, in particular when processing data.

f) Software must ensure, if possible, dark characters on the screen against a light background. If a color display is used, the colors, especially the background, must be as expressive as possible, as much as possible given the requirements of the work.