Laptop low-down

As the workforce becomes more mobile and technology improves, the use of laptop computers is increasing. They provide great flexibility but they also carry greater risks than a static workstation. Their increased use means that employers are far more dependant on users being sensible in how they use them outside the workplace and also how they manage security.

Using a laptop can cause musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) because they are not easy to use in the correct posture (as you would at a conventional workstation). There is a higher risk of neck and eye problems, because of the angle of the screen; hand and wrist problems because of the angle of the keyboard; and shoulder and back problems due to inappropriate posture during use, or the weight of the laptop when being carried.

As with a normal workstation, you should:

  • Adopt a good posture
    • Raise the screen to the height that you would use for a static workstation
    • Use a separate keyboard and mouse so that wrists are in a neutral position
  • Sit in a chair that provides good back support and align the keyboard to your body (“b” key should be in line with your belly button) – don’t twist to use the laptop.
  • Make sure the screen is adjusted properly to avoid glare and so that you do not have to stretch your neck to see it properly.
  • Take regular breaks from continuous work.
  • Rest your eyes by looking at objects at different distances (e.g. look out of the window).  Try and remember to blink to avoid dry eyes.
  • Make sure that the laptop is supported properly when working so it can’t move or slide as you work.

On the move:

If you have to carry your laptop with you, you should regularly consider:

  • The weight of the laptop – try and buy as low a weight as possible, ideally with removable drives and with a long battery life so you can avoid carrying transformers and cables too.
  • How to transport it – only carry a laptop and bag on one shoulder for short periods. A laptop rucksack or trolley is far better for your back.
  • Security – laptops are desirable objects:
    • Disguise your laptop, if you can, in a non-laptop looking bag.
    • Be extra vigilant if you are walking around in a higher risk area.
    • Don’t leave your laptop in a car.

Other safety issues

  • If you use your laptop connected to the mains, make sure the cables are not trailing across the floor in the path of other people around you.
  • Don’t walk around with the laptop open.
  • Don’t rest your laptop on your lap for any length of time:
    • It is not good ergonomically
    • it can get very hot!
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Customer Survey – They Love Me, They Love Me Not!

So do they love you?  And how do you know?  Quite simply there’s really only one way to find out – ask them!  Good communication with your customers is one of the most important tools in understanding and developing your business.  It starts with asking what they want in the first place, and then checking to see if you succeeded.  Asking them how you could have done it better continues the cycle.

Not only is this an obvious way to ensure that you provide what the market wants, it also forms the basis of continuous improvement of your business.  In a competitive market it literally pays to perform better than everyone else and an effective way to find out how you are doing is to ask the people who know best – your customers.

How you go about this rather depends on what you are selling and to whom.  A short and well thought out questionnaire is probably best if you have vast quantities of customers.  Create a questionnaire that is easy and painless to complete and return, and maybe even offer an incentive to do so.  A brief Internet search will reveal companies who provide online questionnaire services.

If you have fewer clients to whom you provide a more specialised service, you might prefer to question them in person.  Schedule a chat or a meeting and build in some searching questions about their experience with you.  Ask them what they love about your service and what you can do better.  Engage them in a conversation that is all about them and their needs. It’s important though to record the findings.

Whatever form your customer survey takes, the key is to listen to the answers.  Record all the information and determine what it means to your business.  Act on your findings to create real, targeted improvements. Then, when you next ask them how you are doing, you can measure the success of your actions.

Continuous improvement is an essential element of ISO9000, but measuring customer satisfaction is important, regardless of whether you have ISO9000 or not.  In simple terms it means listen to your customers, give them what they want through follow-up, through the appropriate means suitable for your business and customers, and record and measure the results.

To find out more about Customer Satisfaction Surveys click here for our factsheet, or email us for a copy of our factsheet.

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