COMPUTER USE IMPACT ON STUDENTS' HEALTH IN THE CONTEXT OF ECOLOGICAL APPROACH TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY

The intensity of the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the study process is increasing. The most typical example of the use of ICT is the use of computers. To avoid harmful effects on the students' health caused by long term work at a computer it is necessary to follow ergonomic conditions set out for the consistent use of computers. The aim of the study is to find out whether the changes in the process of computer use initiate appropriate changes in the environment arranged for the computer use. The theoretical basis of the study is the ecological approach, which has been transformed from Uri Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of human development and its triangulation with ergonomics. An ecological experiment and triangulation of data collection to determine the impact of computer use on the students' health have been carried out. It was found that during a study process the intensity of the use of computers increase. More than 70 % of the respondents consider that their knowledge on how to use computers is sufficient to ensure that they use them in compliance with the requirements of ergonomics for computer use. All respondents had more than a five year experience in the use of computers. However, almost 90 % of respondents, including employees and future specialists of occupational health and safety, do not follow the conditions set out for healthy work with a computer. As a result, 95 % respondents have identified symptoms testifying that the use of computers has adverse effect on health. The key factors are: ocular discomfort, pain in one's back or shoulders and wrist joint. It is therefore particularly important to continue the study on the causes of non-compliance with the occupational health and safety requirements and minimization of their effect.

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